Course teacher(s)
Giulia MELONI (Coordinator)ECTS credits
5
Language(s) of instruction
english
Course content
Since the start of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the European Union (EU) has spent a large share of its budget on supporting European agriculture. Initially, the EU’s CAP aimed to support farmers and improve agricultural productivity, ensuring a stable supply of affordable food, but new priorities are emerging. Warming atmosphere, weather instability, loss of biodiversity, are just a few among many challenges the agriculture sector is facing. Finding diverse and innovative solutions are thus key EU policy priorities, in order to improve the capacity of agricultural and food systems to respond to these challenges in Europe and globally.
This is reflected in the new European Commission’s priorities, the Clean industrial Deal and the upcoming CAP reform. This year will be critical for an agriculture and food sector already challenged by price volatility, climate change and the War in Ukraine.
Objectives (and/or specific learning outcomes)
This course shall provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of EU and global food systems, the new challenges the agri-food sector is facing, and the determinants and consequences of public intervention in European agricultural and food markets. The aim of this course is to give students the theoretical and policy background required to understand and critically reflect on these issues. It is also intended to give a sense of the very extensive and long-lasting government intervention in and regulation of agricultural and food markets. The course should appeal to students with an interest in European economics, public policy analysis or international trade issues.
Teaching methods and learning activities
12 Lectures. Students are made to apply the concepts seen in class through group presentations. Active participation is class is strongly encouraged.
References, bibliography, and recommended reading
See course platform.
Course notes
- Université virtuelle
Contribution to the teaching profile
LO 1.1 Apply fundamental concepts, tools and models in economics and management to formulate a well-defined problem and propose a multidisciplinary solution relevant to the economic context
LO 1.2 Integrate sustainable development in analyses
LO 2.1 Adopt a scientific approach to data collection, research and analysis and communicate results with clear, structured and sophisticated arguments
LO 2.2 Display critical thinking, logical and abstract reasoning and develop an independent approach to learning
LO 3.1 Solve standard mathematical and statistical problems by analysing data with standard office and statistical software
LO 3.2 Write simple code and conceptualize the key coding steps needed to solve a complex problem
LO 3.3 Assess the quality of a statistical or quantitative analysis of an economic problem
LO 4.1 Work and communicate effectively as part of a team in an international and multicultural environment
LO 4.2 Recognize ethical dilemmas and contribute to solving them
Other information
Evaluation
Method(s) of evaluation
- written examination
- Oral presentation
- Group work
written examination
Oral presentation
Group work
The final grade in this course will be based on group presentations and class participation (50%) and a final written assignment (50%).
Language(s) of evaluation
- english