Agricultural Policy and International Trade
The course is relevant for those who are considering further and more advanced studies in economics and international trade or intending to work in organizations involved in international agrifood trade. This course offers an introduction to international trade theory and equips you with tools for trade policy analysis. While the focus of the course is on theory, you will also be exposed to many applications through a mixture of classroom-based activities, computer lab sessions, assigned readings and group work.
This course is driven by the increasingly global nature and the continued expansion of economic interdependence between countries and across agricultural and food supply chains. Why countries trade, what explains the pattern of trade that we observe and what are the economic and welfare effects of agricultural policies and trade agreements? Using tools and insights from theoretical insights and empirical studies, the course will enable you to assess possible responses to such questions.
Material will be presented by a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, in-class exercises, homework, case analysis and presentation, and class discussion of assigned readings. Throughout the course you will build your critical and analytical skills, and develop independent learning skills and team working skills, which will provide a strong foundation for future study and employment in the field.
Information from the course leader
A warm welcome to the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and the course Agricultural Policy and International Trade!
Below, you will find general information about the student account, registration for the course and other practical information.
The student account
You will need your student account to access e.g. your e-mail, Ladok and Canvas. For information regarding how to create your student account, see here: https://student.slu.se/en/study-support/it-support/support/new-student---start/
Registration for the course
Self-registration for the course is done in Ladok between 2021-10-18 and 2021-11-02. Remember that you must be admitted and registered to take the course.
If you have been admitted to the course with conditions, you need to send your credit list to the course leader who will review it and decide if you can register. Do this as soon as possible as reviewing credits may take a few days due to the course start.
Educational support
If you are entitled extra educational support, please inform the course leader at the start of the course so that special arrangements can be made. For educational support for an exam, see instructions in the exam registration in Ladok Student. You need to register for alternative exam arrangements no later than 15 workings days prior to the examination. More information here: https://student.slu.se/en/study-support/study-support/funka/.
Discontinuation of a course
If you want to discontinue the course, you should immediately notify the educational administrators at econ-edu@slu.se, who in turn will inform the course leader and register a non-completion of the course in Ladok after your approval. You are also able to register an early non-completion of the course (within three weeks after course start) in Ladok yourself.
Exams
You will automatically be registered for the first exam of the course in Ladok Student. You can find your anonymity code in Ladok Student. Please note that you still have to register yourself for the re-exam in Ladok Student. This applies only to exams and re-exams within the Department of Economics.
Corrected exams can usually be collected Wednesdays at 12.30 - 14.30 in room D416 or D417 in Ulls Hus. Due to Covid, it is best to contact econ-edu@slu.se to get help with collecting your exam.
Do not hesitate to contact us at econ-edu@slu.se if you have any questions!
Kind regards
The administration
2021-09-08
Welcome to NA0160!
Dear participants, Welcome to the course on “Agricultural Policy and international Trade”. The first lecture in the course will take place on Tuesday, 2 November 2021 at 13:15. My colleagues Shon Ferguson ( a senior lecturer and associate professor at the Department of Economics in SLU; and a research fellow at the Research Institute of Industrial Economics in Stockholm) and Gaëlle Leduc (a PhD researcher at the Department of Economics in SLU), will be sharing teaching responsibilities with me for this course. Please refer to the “Timetable” section on this webpage for more details about the schedule of the lectures. The schedule is not final and few minor changes may be applied. During the next few weeks, more details will be added. Please remember to register for the course in Ladok! Best regards, Assem Abu Hatab
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
NA0160-20122 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for NA0160
Academic year 2022/2023
Agricultural Policy and International Trade (NA0160-20087)
2022-11-01 - 2023-01-15
Academic year 2020/2021
Agricultural Policy and International Trade (NA0160-20119)
2020-11-02 - 2021-01-17
Academic year 2019/2020
Agricultural Policy and International Trade (NA0160-20084)
2019-11-01 - 2020-01-19
Academic year 2018/2019
Agricultural Policy and International Trade (NA0160-20147)
2018-11-05 - 2019-01-20
Academic year 2017/2018
Agricultural Policy and International Trade (NA0160-20041)
2017-10-30 - 2018-01-14
Academic year 2016/2017
Agricultural Policy and International Trade (NA0160-20031)
2016-10-31 - 2017-01-15
Academic year 2015/2016
Agricultural Policy and International Trade (NA0160-20023)
2015-10-26 - 2016-01-17
Academic year 2014/2015
Agricultural Policy and International Trade (NA0160-20036)
2014-11-10 - 2015-01-18
Academic year 2013/2014
Agricultural Policy and International Trade (NA0160-20017)
2013-11-11 - 2014-01-19
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
NA0160 Agricultural Policy and International Trade, 7.5 Credits
Jordbrukspolitik och internationell handelSubjects
Economics Agricultural Science Economics Agricultural scienceEducation cycle
Bachelor’s levelAdvanced study in the main field
First cycle, has less than 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsBachelor’s level (G1F)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Knowledge equivalent to 30 credits in Economics.Knowledge equivalent to English B from upper secondary school.
Objectives
The goal of the course is to provide basic knowledge of the principles, economic consequences and institutional relationships in Swedish and international agricultural policies and trade in food products.
With successful completion of this course, students shall be able to:
describe the international conditions for international trade in food products,
explain the main principles of and the institutional situation behind the agricultural policies of the European Union and Sweden,
explain the basic foundations of international trade theory (comparative advantage, Hecksher-Ohlin theorem, terms of trade, etc.),
use economic theory to assess the economic impacts of agricultural and trade policies,
explain how and why international trade of food products functions as it does and to describe any reasonable changes in this trade.
Content
Advanced trade theory
Description and analysis of agricultural policy in Sweden, Europe and the rest of the world
Description and analysis of international trade in food products
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
Exam, project report, exercises and participation in obligatory moments.
Requirements for passing the course:
Passing grade on exam, passing grade on project report, passed assignments and active participation in obligatory moments.
- If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
- The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
- If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
- For the examination of a degree project (independent project), the examiner may also allow the student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Further information
Grading criteria
|
Grade |
Learning Outcomes |
|||
|
Describe the mechanisms through which international trade affect economic welfare |
Describe the economic effects of international trade and various policy instruments |
Quantify the economic impacts of trade policy and agricultural policy |
Analyze a policy question using empirical or theoretical methods and effectively communicate findings |
|
|
5 |
Demonstrates deep and comprehensive understanding of the economic mechanisms. |
Able to identify the correct economic modelling framework for a given policy scenario, model the problem and describe the underlying intuition of the effects. |
Correctly measures the size of the economic impacts in a modelling framework, and provides intuition for the results. |
Identify a relevant policy question, demonstrate deep and comprehensive knowledge of chosen empirical or theoretical methods used to analyze question, communicate findings in a highly effective and thorough manner. |
|
4 |
Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the economic mechanisms. |
Able to correctly describe the economic impact of each policy instrument in a graphical framework. |
Correctly measures the size of the economic impacts in a modelling framework. |
Identify a relevant policy question, demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of chosen empirical or theoretical methods to analyze, effectively communicate findings. |
|
3 |
Can briefly describe the economic mechanisms. |
Correctly describes the direction of the economic impact (positive, negative) of each policy instrument for consumers and producers in each country. |
Correctly describes the method for quantifying the economic impacts of trade policy or agricultural policy using illustrations or math as appropriate. |
Identify a relevant policy question, demonstrate basic knowledge of empirical or theoretical methods to analyze, and communicate findings in a satisfactory way. |
|
U |
Insufficient understanding of concepts related to abovementioned mechanisms. |
Insufficient ability to analyze the economic effects of international trade and policy instruments. |
Lack of understanding of how to quantify economic impacts. |
Insufficient ability to identify relevant policy question, perform analysis or communicate findings. |
|
Assessment |
Written exam |
Written exam |
Written exam |
Home project |
Litterature list
- Course Literature Kommentar: The course material consists of power point presentations and readings from the textbook. The textbook is: Feenstra, R.C., and Taylor, A.M. (2014). International trade (4th Edition). New York: Worth Macmillan. Power point presentations will be made available after the respective classes have taken place. Some articles and book chapters might be provided during the course in due time. The power point presentations and other reading materials will be uploaded to ‘Canvas’. Students are expected to visit this site regularly to keep abreast of course evolutions.