74874 - Principles Of Agricultural Economics

Learning outcomes

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

Course contents

MODULE I. PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS (26 h and 3 h exercises)

1. Microeconomics (18 h):

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

 2. Agro-food system and imperfect competition (7 h, of which 3 h individual exercises)

• food value chain;
• imperfect markets and food industry;
• elements of marketing.

3. Environmental Economics (4 h):

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

MODULE II. ELEMENTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND AGRICULTURAL POLICIES (20 h and 11 h exercises)

1. Environmental Policies (8 h, of which 2 h group exercises):

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

2. Agricultural Policies (19 h, of which 9 h individual and group exercises):

• agricultural policies reasons and purposes: problems, values and opportunities in agriculture;
• agricultural policy measures;
• fiscal policies and primary sector;
• agri-environmental policy measures;
• food waste;
• international context and prospects.

3. Rural development plans (4 h):

• rural development programs: priorities, aims and measures.

Readings/Bibliography

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

Turner K., Pearce D., Bateman I., Environmental Economics, J. Hopkins Univ. Pr., 19933 (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).

Slides: http://campus.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:

a. regular class attendance: written exam (5 arguments, one hour);
b. not regular class attendance: oral exam (about one hour) 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 Marco Setti

See the website of Matteo Vittuari