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 4 h exercises)

1. Microeconomics (14 h):

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

2. Environmental Economics (4 h)

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

3. Environmental and Agro-environmental Policy (8 h, of which 4 h group exercises):

• environmental policy: aims, principles, types, mechanisms, and critical analysis;
• agro-environmental policy: decoupling, cross-compliance, and rural development.

MODULE II. AGRO-FOOD MARKETING (24 h and 6 h exercises)

1. Agro-food systems and elements of marketing (6 h):

• food and human evolution;
• Agricultural Revolution;
• marketing: definition, aims, and evolution.
  

2. Marketing analytics (6 h):

• analysis of the internal environment;
• analysis of the external environment;
• SWOT analysis.

3. Marketing strategics (6 h):

• strategic plan;
• running the strategic plan;
• controlling the strategic plan.

4. Marketing tactics and services (12 h, of which 6 h group exercises):

• marketing tactics: meaning, product, price, promotion, context;
• tactics pianification;
• service marketing.
  

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://iol.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 Alfonso Bonezzi