209-404 Agricultural Policy&International Trade

Availability

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

209-101 Economics of Resource Use, or 316-102 Introductory Microeconomics, 209-301 Agricultural Marketing.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The objective of the subject is for students to be able to:

• understand the reasons for government intervention in the agricultural sectors of several countries, including Australia, and have knowledge of the policy objectives being pursued, together with the policy instruments employed;

• analyze the effects of agricultural protectionism on international trade and be knowledgeable about the outcome of the Uruguay Round in the GATT;

• analyze environmental issues as they relate to trade issues in food and fibre;

• and understand the issue of world food security.

The subject covers the following topics:

• the reasons for government intervention in the agricultural sector;

• the principal agricultural policy issues in Australia, the European Union, the United States and Japan;

• the effects of these policies on international trade in agricultural products;

• agriculture on the GATT and the WTO;

• and environmental issues as they relate to trade in food and fibre products. Aspects of the world food problem.

Assessment

A three-hour end of semester written examination (60%) and two assignments of up to 3000 words worth 20% each.