Draft outline for a course on Space Policy & Economics
As many of you know, since many years I follow the process of "commercialization" of the Space Sector with great interest. I am finally planning to put in on paper and create a course (BA level) on it. Here below you will find the main points of my proposed course; if anyone has good suggestions for scientific literature on the topic, please write me at f.nicoli@uva.nl!
proposed outline
View the original archived post →- A short introduction to space politics through history
- The economics of the space sector: introduction
- Why states invest in space?
- science, industrial base, military dominance, prestige, commercial assets
- The sectors of the space industry
- Rocketry, satellite manufacturing, services; the value-chain
- Barriers in the space sector
- Structural barriers: technology, policy choices
- Economic barriers: entry costs, development costs
- Production rates, return on investment and the role of government demand
- Market models: monopolies, oligopolies. No perfect competition?
- Domestic politics
- Research and national prestige; industry protection and continuation; constituency appeasement; homegrown rocketry
- International politics
- Military competition, scientific cooperation?
- International governance
- Outer Space Treaty (OST), Moon Treaty, ISS Agreement; the role of the UN. The issue of planetary protection.
- European Governance
- The ESA and national space agencies cooperation
- “old” vs “new” space?
- Challenges and benefits of reusability
- In-space manufacturing
- The issue of property rights; US and Luxembourg legal innovation
- Tourism and private manned activities
- Towards permanent settlement?