Module Information

Module Identifier
RS14320
Module Title
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE RURAL ECONOMY
Academic Year
2010/2011
Co-ordinator
Dr Michael Christie
Semester
Semester 2

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 1 x 1 hour lecture per week
Lecture 1 x 2 hour lecture per week
Practical 2 x 3 hour workshops during semester
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment 3 x Exercise Sheets  Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7  30%
Semester Exam 2 Hours   Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8  70%
Supplementary Exam 2 Hours   Outcomes assessed: All  100%

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Describe and apply basic principles of economics to rural issues.
2. Relate economic behaviour at the household and rural firm level to aggregate changes in the countryside.
3. Discuss the principles of business accounts and appraisal.
4. Explain linkages between the overall economy and prospects for agriculture and other rural industries.
5. Evaluate the arguments for and against agricultural trade liberalisation.
6. describe the framework of rural policy in the United Kingdom and Western Europe;
7. describe government policies relating to agriculture, conservation and the rural economy, at present and in the recent past;
8. assess the effectiveness of interventions by governments and their agencies in achieving their objective and targets.

Aims

This module will consider the economic principles that underlie government intervention in agricultural, rural and regional policy. The development of an understanding of the fundamental economic relationships will enable opportunities and problems for rural areas to be discussed and appropriate policy responses to be identified. Lecture material will include:
  • Nature and methods of economcis and its application to agriculture, countryside management, conservation and recreation;
  • the demand for food and characteristics of consumer behaviour, including price and income elasticity of demand for food; conservation and public goods in the rural environment; demand for rural amenities;
  • Externalities and environmental policies;
  • discuss the principles of business accounts and appraisal;
  • introduction to the major macroeconomic variables; economic growth, employment, inflation, Balance of Payments;
  • linkages between the macro economy and the rural industries;
  • the theory of comparative advantage and the balance of agricultural trade;
  • economics of the CAP and its reform;
  • agricultural trade liberalisation and the environment.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Some economic principles require numerical approaches, and both the exercise sheets and the short-answer examination questions will require evidence of the development of these skills. Exercise sheets are to be assessed.
Communication Students will be required to write using appropriate economic terms and to communicate their understanding of economic concepts as they apply to rural issues. This will be assessed through the examination.
Problem solving Exercise sheets will set students particular problems that will require the application of economic principles and basic economic tools in order to solve them. Exercise sheets are to be assessed.

Reading List

General Text
Begg D, Fischer S and Dornbusch R (2005) Economics Prentice Hall Primo search Brassley P (1997) Agricultural economics and the CAP: an introduction Blackwell Science Primo search Hill B (1990) An introduction to economics for students of agriculture 2nd Pergamon Primo search Hill B E and Ingersent K A (1982) An economic analysis of agriculture 2nd Heinemann Educational Books Primo search Hodge I (1995) Environmental economics Macmillan Press, London Primo search Penson J B, Capps O and Parr C P (2001) Introduction to agricultural economics Prentice Hall Primo search Ritson, C (1987) Agricultural economics: principles and policy Blackwell Primo search Sloman J (2002) Economics 4th FT Prentice Hall Primo search Sloman J and Sutcliffe M (2002) Economics workbook 4th FT Prentice Hall Primo search Strak J (1989) Rural pluriactivity in the UK NEDC Primo search Tracy M (1993) Food and agriculture in a market economy Belgium: Agricultural Policy Studies Primo search Tracy M (1989) Government and agriculture in western Europe 1880 - 1988 3rd Harvester Wheatsheaf Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4