Aims

• provide an understanding of the relationship between agriculture and the aggregate domestic economy;
• provide an understanding of the relationship between agriculture and the international economy;
• to develop an analysis of the impact of these relationships on business growth and development, trade liberalization and
• support policies.

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

• understand the changing nature of farm and rural businesses;
• explain the linkages between agriculture, other industries and the overall economy;
• evaluate the arguments in favour of and against agricultural trade liberalisation

Syllabus / Curriculum design
The 24-lecture, 4-seminar course will consider farm business analysis and the changing nature of rural business; production economics; rural economic development issues and policies; agriculture and the macroeconomy; the theory of comparative advantage and the balance of agricultural trade; green monetary issues; the Uruguay round of the GATT, the World Trade Organisation, agricultural trade liberalisation and the environment.

Brief description
This module will provide a more detailed examination of trading relationships and business founded on agricultural and other natural resource-based commodities.