Economics and politics of the agrifood sector

International agri-food markets & policies Goals and learning outcomes The course will introduce students to basic and advanced topics in international trade with emphasis to the agri-food sector and environmental issues. Knowledge of international trade models, of the effects of trade policy, and topics such as the political economy of trade policy, environmental and food standards, climate change and migration, will be the main learning outcomes. The presentation of the different theoretical models will give emphasis to applied works and issues pertinent to current real problems. Course outline: Neoclassic Trade Models (F-T ch. 2-4) 1. Technology and International Trade: the Ricardian Model 2. Gains and Losses from International Trade: the Specific-Factors Model 3. Trade and Resource Endowment: the Heckscher-Ohlin Model4. Movement of labor and migration New (New) Trade Models (F-T ch 6; K-O-M ch. 7; readings) 5. Economies of Scale and Imperfect Competition 6. Monopolistic Competition with Firms Heterogeneity 7. Gravity Models and Gravity Equations International Trade Policy (F-T ch. 8, 10 and 11) 8. Tariff and Quota Under Perfect Competition 9. Export and Production Subsidies and Tax 10. International Agreements on Trade and the environment Advanced Topics (mainly through research papers) 11. The political economy of trade policy (K-O-M ch 10; F ch 9; Slides & readings) 12. Trade and welfare effects of environmental and food standards (Slides & readings) 13. Trade and the environment (F&T ch 11, Slides & readings) 14. Climate change, migrations and agriculture (F-T ch. 5, Slides & readings) Textbooks 1. Feenstra R. C. e Taylor A. M. (2014). International Trade, Worth MacMillan, New York (F-T). This represent the reference book. 2. Krugman P., Obstfeld M. and Melitz M.J. (2012). International Economics. Theory and Policy, Pearson (K-O-M, just ch 8 (pp. 202-08) and Ch. 10. These chapters will be available on Ariel. 3. Readings suggested by the teacher (available on Ariel). Assessment: The exam consists of: 1.a written mid-term test (40% of the grade); 2.a group work (30%); 3.a final oral examination (20%). Students who do not achieve a minimum grade in the mid-term test, cannot repeat it, but are required to bring the relative material to the final oral examination. The group work will be based on a short written paper of about 12 pages that will be presented and discussed with the class. Details of the group composition, paper organization and ppt presentation structure will be given later.