79427 - international Agricultural Policies

Learning outcomes

Students will have in-depth knowledge of agri-environmental and environmental policies and rural and bioenergy policies both at global and local level, on their impacts on the economic activities, and on the management of natural resources.

Course contents

Module 1

1. Environmental Economics (8 h):

• welfare economics: efficiency and equity, market failures;
• environmental economics and the commons.

2. Environmental Policies (10 h):

• environmental policies: principles, criteria and aims;
• environmental policies: administrative, economic and voluntary measures;
• comparative analysis of environmental policies;
• sustainable development: concepts and prospects.

3. Agricultural and Agri-environmental Policies (12 h):

• agricultural policies reasons and purposes: problems, values and opportunities in agriculture;
• agricultural policy measures;
• agri-environmental policy measures.

Module 2

1. Introduction to energy economics (8 h):

• energy and development;
• basic energy concepts (definition, forms, measures) and role of energy in the economic system;
• energy supply and demand, energy balance, market failures;
• the international energy market.

2. Rural development and bioenergy (12 h):

• rural development: definition, approaches and theories;
• rural development policy: objectives and tools;
• introduction to bioenergy: regulatory, technical and energetic issues;
• bioenergy policy: objectives and tools;
• the soil, food, water and energy nexus.

3. Case studies (10 h):

• analysis and evaluation of rural policy;
• nalysis and evaluation of bioenergy policy;
• life cycle costing applied to bioenergy.

Readings/Bibliography

Musu I., Introduzione all’economia dell’ambiente, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2003 (capp. 1, 2 e 5);

Turner K., Pearce D., Bateman I., Economia ambientale, Il Mulino, Bologna 2003 (capp. 1, 2, 5, 8 e 10);

Panella G., Economia e politiche dell’ambiente, Carocci, Roma 2002 (capp. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8 e 11);

Andreas Goldthau, The handbook of global energy policy, Wiley-Blackwell, 2013 (capp. 4, 16, 18, 22, Conclusion)

Mark Shucksmith, David L. Brown. Routledge International Handbook of Rural Studies, Routledge, 2016 (capp. 15, 16, 19, 43, 54, 55)

Slides, articles and other material provided during classes.

Teaching methods

Both modules are based on face to face lectures, assignments and group discussions. Specific case studies will be presented and discussed during the classes in order to enhance participation. A similar approach will be utilized also to evaluate and discuss papers, reports, strategies and policy briefs. Simulations and exercises will be eventually utilized.

Assessment methods

There is a joint exam for the two modules of the Integrated Course in Agricultural International Policies therefore it will take place at the end of the classes of both modules.

The oral examination will cover all the units of the two modules of the Integrated Course and will be based on four questions.

Teaching tools

Laptop, beamer, flipchart, others.

Office hours

See the website of Matteo Vittuari

See the website of Marco Setti