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International Agrifood Markets and Policy

A.Y. 2024/2025
7
Max ECTS
72
Overall hours
SSD
AGR/01
Language
English
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with knowledge of the various theoretical models of international trade to assess the suitability of these models in explaining the existing realities of international trade and other related phenomena. The course also aims to provide students with the ability to schematically conduct simple partial and general balance analyzes of the main commercial policy tools using principles of political economy and commercial policy.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the students will be able to develop coherent, structured and balanced opinions on current debates in international trade, international cooperation and globalization and be able to communicate these opinions both orally and in writing. Students will also be able to apply the theoretical knowledge and analytical skills acquired by the course to analyze relevant political issues in the fields of agricultural trade, WTO trade negotiations and issues related to developing countries and economic development.

Lesson period: Second semester

Lessons timetable

Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi

Exams calendar

Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Take a single course
Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Olper Alessandro
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
0. Introduction to international trade topics
International trade models:
1. Technology and International Trade: the Ricardian Model;
2. Gains and Losses from International Trade: the Specific-Factors Model;
3. Trade and Resource Endowment: the Heckscher-Ohlin Model;
4. Economies of Scale and Imperfect Competition;
5. Gravity Models and Gravity Equations;
International Trade Policy:
6. Tariff and Quota Under Perfect Competition;
7. Export, Production Subsidies and Tax;
8. International Agreements on Trade and the environment;
Advance topics:
9. Environmental bias of trade policy;
10. Trade, migration and climate change.
Prerequisites for admission
Microeconomics (... perfect and monopolistic competition models); statistics and econometrics (elements of inferential statistics, multivariate linear model).
Teaching methods
The teaching is based on formal lessons, as well as on the presentation and discussion of specific empirical studies (papers) related to the different topics of the course; the classroom exercises can be based on specific homework assigned by the teacher.
Teaching Resources
Textbooks 1. Feenstra R. C. e Taylor A. M. (2014). International Trade, Worth MacMillan, New York (F-T). This represent the reference book. 2. Krugman P., Obstfeld M. and Melitz M.J. (2012). International Economics. Theory and Policy, Pearson (K-O-M, just ch 8 (pp. 202-08). This chapter will be available on Ariel. Other readings will be suggested by the teacher in class (available in Ariel).
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written and oral tests at the end of the course, with 15 multiple-choice questions (they may require simple mathematical accounts) and 1 open questions (e.g. related to trade models, e.g. Ricardian Model and/or related to one of the empirical papers presented during formal lessons; see reading list on Ariel). Useful material for the final exams (International agrifood markets and policies) are the book exercises at the end of each chapter (see the Feenstra&Taylor solution manual in Ariel).
Results of the exams will be communicate in Ariel
AGR/01 - AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND RURAL APPRAISAL - University credits: 7
Practicals: 32 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor: Olper Alessandro
Shifts:
Turno
Professor: Olper Alessandro
Professor(s)