74874 - Principles Of Agricultural Economics

Learning outcomes

Students will have in-depth knowledge of the functioning and prospects of the agricultural and food policies both at global and local level, on their impacts on the economic activities, and on the eco-management of the supply chains.

Course contents

MODULE I. ELEMENTS OF MICROECONOMICS (26 h and 4 h exercises) 3 ECTS

1. Microeconomics (20 h):

• market: definition, mechanisms, comparative static analysis;
• consumption theory: Engel's law, demand and conditioning factors, consumer's surplus;
• business theory: industry and level choices, supply and conditioning factors, firm's surplus.

2. Environmental Economics (6 h and 4 h group exercises)

• welfare economics: efficiency and equity, market distortions;
• environmental economics: commons, market and environment.

MODULE II. AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY (24 h and 6 h exercises) 3 ECTS

1. Common agricultural policy (12 h and 2 h individual exercise):

• the common agricultural policy motivations, tools and goals;
• the evolution of the common agricultural policy and the international context;
• the new common policy framework in the farm to fork and green deal context;

2. Governance of agricultural and food policy (14 hours and 4 hours of group exercises):

• CAP and food: who decides? Governance in Brussels
• The role of Member States, local authorities and cities
• Civil society and social justice; the role of the State and the Market in the goals of 2030 agenda; in-depth study on "food deserts"
• The problem of natural resources and the land
• Land conversion and monocultures (general look at the data)
• The intertwining of new market needs and land governance in third countries

Readings/Bibliography

Varian H. R., Microeconomia, Cafoscarina, Venezia 2007 (capp. 1, 14, 15, 21 e 22);

Segrè A., Politiche per lo sviluppo agricolo e la sicurezza alimentare, Carocci editore, Roma, 2008

Slides: https://virtuale.unibo.it (with further references and webography)

Teaching methods

Front loaded and active learning methodologies; group and individual exercises; seminars.

Assessment methods

The two Modules are part of the Course Principles of Agricultural Economics: knowledge and skills achieved with the two Modules are evaluated together on the basis of the following modalities:

oral exam (about 30 minutes) on the course study programme (didactic material available on the University web site; selected literature: see "recommended reading").

Teaching tools

Laptop and beamer.

Office hours

See the website of Luca Falasconi

See the website of Claudia Giordano