AEF3010:  AGRICULTURAL POLICY
(Last Update: 30.08.06)

NOTE: THIS CLASS IS NOT TIMETABLED. 


IT WILL BE RUN (IF AT ALL) PURELY AS A GUIDED READING COURSE, BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ENROLLED - SEE BELOW.

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Aims:

(1) To revise and review understandings of market price and trade determination, and the impact of policy intervention in national and international agricultural markets;

(2) To examine policy in major countries (EU, US, Canada & Japan) in the light of policy principles, market effects and international interactions;

(3) To identify and examine international agricultural policy interactions, especially related to GATT, and explore analysis of these relationships. 

Objectives:   By the end of this module, students should:

(1) understand the principles of domestic and world market mechanisms and the effects of policies on these mechanisms;

(2) understand the evolution of farm policies for major countries (illustrated through EU, US, Canada, Japan) in the light of these mechanisms;

(3) be able to apply this understanding to analysis of, and critical comment on market and policy developments and proposals;

(4) be able to develop coherent independent policy analyses and proposals (not examined)

Modus Operandi

The module will be run as a guided reading course.  Tutorial sessions willbe in Prof. Harvey's office [Room 222, Agriculture Building] at 2.00 pm on Tuesdays, unless otherwise notifed.  Additional correspondence can be organised via the net - contact me, if necessary.

Prior to each tutorial session, the class is expected to have read and thought about the notes and topics for each session.  The course is designed on the understanding that students devote between 4 and 6 hours per week (other than class time) reading and thinking about the analysis and evaluation of policy as contained in the reading and study material organised on this web-site. It is intended that tutorials will be used to clarify any difficulties and pursue particular interests - under the control of the students.

Assessment:
The objectives of this module are expressed in terms of 1 (ONE) final formal closed-book examination question to be sat at the end of the course - examination number AEF362 - 2 hours.
This question is as follows:

Students are encouraged to think about this question and practice answers to it throughout the course of the module, for appraisal and evaluation during the module.
Note: all draft answers for interim appraisal are to be presented in word-processed form (both to provide students with incentive to practice these skills, and to preserve confidentiality of handwriting for formal assessment purposes).  The Lecturer reserves the right to limit the number of draft answers per student. However, there is no limit on students who choose to take a cooperative approach to learning and understanding the course. In fact, this is positively encouraged.

General Reading & References

INDEX TO AEF3010 COURSE MATERIAL AND TOPICS

Note: Background Reference Library here (which currently needs updating!)

See as follows for Weekly Update of Class Notes - brief review of what you should have learned! - these sections will be revised and loaded following each week's class.

1. Introduction to Agricultural Policy & History

This introductory session is supported by TWO PAPERS: a) DRH's professorial inaugural lecture given in 1988 as a survey of the state of world farm policies at that time (2 years into the protracted negotiations under the GATT Uruguay Round); b) a recent paper by DRH on the evolution of UK farm policies (with special reference to the Northern Region) and the rural sector, and the current implications of this evolution for the development of farm-based businesses.

Paper 1: "Food Mountains & Famines" Inaugural lecture, DRH, 1988.

Paper 2: "Northern Region Agriculture and Rural Development: What Futures?" Current extended working paper, DRH, 1999

You are expected to have grasped the major thrusts of these papers and to have identified any particular elements of the arguments and analyses which you regard as questionable or otherwise worthy of class discussion prior to the second class of this course.
 

Part I - Policies

2. Economic Analysis of the CAP

The essential elements of economic analysis of policy, illustrated through the history of UK & EU farm policy. You should understand this and be able to develop analysis of policy changes and pressures on this basis. You should also read Ritson & Harvey (eds.) especially chapters 4, 7 and 8. If you need background on the economic analysis of policy, see this policy primer (16 page pdf file).

3a.    The World Market World Markets and Price Formation.

3.b    GATT and WTO  The history, content and implications of the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture, under the auspices of the Multilateral Trade Negotiations (MTN's) of the General Agreement on Tariffs & Trade (GATT).

4. US Farm Policy

An outline of the major elements and evolution of US farm policy, concentrating on the crops (grains) sector, and tracing the history of policy development to the present.

5. Canadian and Japanese Farm Policies

As above, for Canada (as a direct contrast to the US) and Japan, as another major importer to contrast/compare with the EU.

(Trade, Aid and LDC Policies)

[An overview of trade and aid, and Zimbabwe maize policy case study]

Part II - Issues

Recurring Issues:
Contemporary Issues:
Underlying Issues:
Recent References:
Rethinking Domestic Support under the WTO, Hart & Beghin, CARD breifing paper, Nov. 2004.

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