Module Identifier RS14320  
Module Title AN INTRODUCTION TO THE RURAL ECONOMY  
Academic Year 2003/2004  
Co-ordinator Dr Brian J Garrod  
Semester Semester 2  
Other staff Dr Michael Christie  
Course delivery Practical   9 Hours 3 x 3 hours  
  Lecture   33 Hours 11 x 2 hour and 11 x 1 hour lectures  
  Seminars / Tutorials   6 Hours  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8  70%
Semester Assessment 3 x Exercise Sheets Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7  30%
Supplementary Exam2 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:

Transferable skills

.1 Independent project work
Students will independently research and prepare a worksheet for each of the three practical workshop sessions.

.3 Use and analysis of numerical information
Some economic principles require numerical approaches, and examples and short answer examination questions will require evidence of the development of these skills.

.4 Writing in an academic context
This will occur in the examination.

7 Self-management
The coursework and examination requirements of this module require, alongside other requirements, the development of time-management and work organisation skills.

Reading Lists

Books
Begg D, Fischer S and Dornbusch R (2000) Economics 2000. McGraw-Hill, Maidenhead
Brassley P (1997) Agricultural economics and the CAP: an introduction Blackwell Science
Hill B (1990) An introduction to economics for students of agriculture 2nd. Pergamon
Hill B E and Ingersent K A (1982) An economic analysis of agriculture 2nd. Heinemann Educational Books
Hodge I (1995) Environmental economics Macmillan Press, London
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (1992) Business and jobs in the rural world OECD
Penson J B, Capps O and Parr C P (1996) Introduction to agricultural economics Prentice Hall
Ritson, C (1977) Agricultural economics: principles and policy Crosby Lockwood Staples
Sloman J (2002) Economics 4th. Prentice Hall
Sloman J and Sutcliffe M (2002) Economics workbook 4th. Prentice Hall
Strak J (1989) Rural pluriactivity in the UK NEDC
Tracy M (1989) Government and agriculture in western Europe 1880 - 1988 3rd. Harvester Wheatsheaf
Tracy M (1993) Food and agriculture in a market economy Belgium: Agricultural Policy Studies

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4