18061 - Economics of Food Markets

Learning outcomes

The student will be able to know the basics of the economy of agro-industrial production market and in particular the structure and functioning of the economic phases that are downstream of the farm. The student will also acquire relevant information relating to public intervention on production structures and markets.

Course contents

Prerequisites

For this course the student should have a good preparation in the fundamentals of microeconomics and the economy of the farm. This knowledge is acquired through the teachings of the first year of the course.

 

Teaching program

1.     Economics of Markets (total teaching unit: 26 hours)

 

1.1. Characteristics of the market of agro-industrial products (5 hours)

1.2. Functions of the market (2 hours)

1.3. Market services (4 hours)

1.4. Sales systems (2 hours)

1.5. The integration in the agro-industrial system (2 hours)

1.6. Stages of distribution (6 hours)

1.7. Distribution channels (2 hours)

 

Acquired skills in Unit 1

The student will be able to:

a) know the main characteristics of the structure and functioning of the market of agro-industrial products

b)know the type of the operators involved and the specificity of the activities

c) know the dynamics which govern the relations between the operators and the possible modes of interaction

d) analyze supply chains and the creation of value inside them.

 

2                  . Public control of the agricultural market (total teaching unit: 10 hours)

 

2.1. Monitoring of imports

2.2. Price support

2.3. Stabilization of prices

2.4. Pricing policy and EU markets

 

Acquired skills in Unit 2

The student will be able to:

a) know the reasons at the basis of public intervention in the agricultural market

b) understand  the impact that government intervention determines in the market

c) interpret the constraints and opportunities that the agricultural policy determines on market dynamics

 

3. Practical application and Seminars (total teaching unit 24 hours)

Exercises are organized and jointly carried out by the two teachings of the course in view of the strong integration among the covered topics

3.1. Study visits to agribusiness enterprises

3.2. Practical applications and development of projects

3.3. Seminars and workshops consistent with the topics the course

 

Skills acquired in Unit 3

The student will be able to:

a) have a proper social-economic approach to strategic problems in agro-industrial enterprises

b) acquire and master  the variables affecting business decisions in the market for agro-industrial products

Readings/Bibliography

The teacher will provide students specific educational material (in electronic format) which supplements the notes taken during lectures.

In order to complete and deepen the preparation the following references are recommended:

1.     Pareglio Stefano (2007), Agricoltura, sviluppo rurale e politica regionale nell''Unione Europea, Ed Franco Angeli, Milano

2.     Messori Flavio e Ferretti Fabrizio (2010), Economia del mercato agroalimentare, Ed. Edagricole, Bologna

Teaching methods

The course is divided into three teaching units of which the first two are theoretical and consist of lectures. Lectures provide a close interaction between the teacher and the classroom and are organized in order to stimulate the interest and critical analysis by students through the presentation of case studies. The exercises require the direct involvement of the students who will be able to deal with the dynamics of group work and presentation of the results. The seminars, held by operators of the agro-industrial business, and the study visits will allow the student to deal with the language of such specific working world.

Assessment methods

The course is part of the Integrated Course in Economics and Marketing of the agro-industrial system along with the Marketing (6 credits) instruction. Therefore, the evaluation of the course takes into account jointly the level of knowledge and skills acquired by the student in relation to the contents of  the two teachings.

The knowledge and skills taught in this course are evaluated in different ways (the student will chose one of the following):

• The first option,  only for students attending lessons, consists of a two hours written test,  given  at the end of all lessons. The test, in the part relating to this teaching, will consist of 20 questions, differently weigthed (the majority are multiple choice answers and some are open-ended questions). The assessment takes into account the general trend of the test.

• The second option consists of an oral examination (lasting approximately 20-30 minutes) to assess the learning of the topics covered in the course.

Teaching tools

Whiteboard, projector, computer, internet access. All lessons are carried out showing slides.

Office hours

See the website of Domenico Regazzi