Course Description
Domestic and international government policies affecting agriculture, agribusinesses, and rural economies. Policy alternatives aimed at solving economic and environmental problems of the food and agricultural sector are identified and evaluated.
Athena Title
Intro to Agricultural Policy
Prerequisite
AAEC 2580 or AAEC 2580E or ECON 2106 or ECON 2106E or ECON 2106H
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. To further understanding of the economic characteristics of U.S. agricultural markets. 2. To further understanding of the historical and cultural environment of U.S. agriculture. 3. To further understanding of the political institutions and processes that impact U.S. agriculture. 4. To apply these areas of understanding to the analysis of current issues in U.S. agriculture.
Topical Outline
1. The Economic Environment of U.S. Agriculture a. Characteristics of Perfectly Competitive Markets b. Firm Behavior Under Perfect Competition c. Price and Income Elasticities of Agricultural Products d. International Trade and Global Competition e. Marketing Margins f. Contracting and the Onset of Imperfect Competition 2. The Historical and Cultural Environment of U.S. Agriculture a. Jeffersonian Agrarianism b. Romanticism c. Myth and Reality in Perceptions of U.S. Agriculture d. History of Government Involvement in U.S. Agriculture 3. The Political Environment of U.S. Agriculture a. The Role of Congress b. The Role of the Administration c. The Role of Interest Groups d. Government Farm Income Support Programs e. Government Environmental Programs f. Other Government Programs. 4. Current Issues in U.S. Agriculture a. Genetically Modified Organisms b. Agriculture and the World Trade Organization c. Environmental Contamination d. Farmland Preservation e. Other Current Issues
Syllabus