Economics of Food

Subject ECON30007 (2012)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2012.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 3 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Semester 2, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Two 1-hour lectures and a 1-hour tutorial per week
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites:
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Summer Term, Semester 1
12.50
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: Please refer to Prerequisites and Corequisites.
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements for this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Assoc Prof Donald Maclaren

Contact

d.maclaren@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview: Topics include the reasons for government intervention in the agri-food sector; the policy objectives and instruments of government intervention in selected countries; international trade, agricultural protectionism and the World Trade Organization; food safety; and world food security.
Objectives: On completion of this subject students should be able to:
  • explain the reasons for government intervention in the agri-food sectors of several countries, including Australia, and identify the policy objectives being pursued;
  • critically analyse the economic effects, including the trade effects, of the policy instruments employed;
  • describe and analyse the limitations of applied welfare economics in guiding public policy;
  • critically analyse the issue of world food security;
  • synthesise the current policy issues in the agri-food sectors of the world economy including the newer issues concerning the agri-food sector such as trade and the stability of food prices, trade and food safety, and trade and the environment;
  • explain the position of agriculture in the WTO; and critically appraise the current proposals under negotiation in the WTO.
Assessment:

A 2-hour end-of-semester written examination (60%); a mid-semester test (20%) and an assignment totalling not more than 2000 words (20%).
Prescribed Texts: You will be advised of prescribed texts by your lecturer.
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

  • High level of development: written communication; problem solving; application of theory to practice; critical thinking.

  • Moderate level of development: collaborative learning; team work; accessing data and other information from a range of sources; receptiveness to alternative ideas.

  • Some level of development: oral communication.
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Economics Major

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