Economics

The course aims to introduce the basic concepts of economic theory, political economy and zooeconomics, with particular emphasis on the evaluation of the economic activity of livestock enterprises and the functioning of the market for animal products in the agri-food system.
Market and enterprise theory and the main types of livestock farming operating in the Italian livestock sector will be examined in detail. Students will be introduced to the evaluation of business processes with a focus on the analysis of the efficiency of economic choices through accounting tools. Finally, the course aims to study in detail the general logic of agricultural policy with reference to the national and European reality.

At the end of the course the students will have knowledge of the animal production system in the context of overall economic dynamics. They will know the market of products and means as a synthesis of supply and demand and of reciprocal relations. They will be familiar with the policies and regulations of the European Union and the Member States concerning animal production. In particular, the students will be able to: identify the criteria for the technical-economic organisation of intensive, extensive and multi-functional livestock farming; analyse the main economic elements characterising the activities of the agricultural entrepreneur, determine revenues and costs, apply the budget tool to orientate economic decisions, use methods of analysing the efficiency of choices to improve productivity in economic terms.