60
Rural economy and evaluation
REGGIO DI CALABRIA
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The module introduces students to a basic understanding of Agricultural Economics. The first part of the module focuses on microeconomics and examines the behavior of consumers, enterprises and markets. Market failures and public intervention are also examined. The second part of the module analyses the inputs of the farm, the budget analysis, investment analysis and business plan. The course also includes an overview of small business organization, with particular reference to the business life cycle, intercompany collaboration, and generational succession.
Course Prerequisites
none
Teaching Methods
The course includes 60 hours of lectures, 30 of which relate to the microeconomics part and 30 to the agricultural economics part.
Assessment Methods
The assessment of the student’s acquired knowledge consists of an oral exam, aimed at assessing the student’s understanding of the subject matter, their ability to connect and summarize it in a concise, complete, organized, and structured manner, using technical and formally correct vocabulary. The oral exam will be graded on the following scale.
30-30 with honors. Complete, detailed, and in-depth knowledge of the subject matter, with correct terminology. Excellent understanding, distinguishing key points and developing interdisciplinary connections. Consolidated ability to apply knowledge and analyze results. Clear, structured, logical, and concise presentation.
28-29: In-depth knowledge, correct terminology, and explanation of the main concepts. Solid understanding, framing of key points, and discussion with individual insights. Excellent ability to apply knowledge and analyze results. Clear, articulate, logical, and mature presentation, albeit with some inaccuracies.
25-27: Extensive knowledge, although without fully explaining the relevant content. Use of terminology, not always accurate, identifying key concepts. Adequate understanding, distinguishing key points without fully framing them. Good ability to apply knowledge. Clear presentation, but not always complete, with schematic organization and sometimes fragmented thoughts.
22-24: Acceptable knowledge, albeit with gaps and some confusion in certain concepts. Essential understanding, not always framing the topics or inaccurate. Fair ability to apply fundamental concepts. Correct presentation, but without a clear and coherent structure, including irrelevant material.
18-21: Limited knowledge, with numerous gaps and an inability to illustrate key concepts completely and accurately. Basic understanding, with difficulty distinguishing and framing key points correctly. Uncertainty in applying the fundamental concepts of the subject.
Fail: Poor, fragmented, and incomplete knowledge, lacking essential content. Serious errors in comprehension, failure to answer numerous questions, and failure to identify key concepts. Errors in applying fundamental concepts, failure to achieve an acceptable level of articulation of thought.
Texts
Part one: Microeconomics
- J. Sloman, D. Garratt, Elementi di economia, Il Mulino, 2010 - cap. 1-6
Part Two: Agricultural Economics
-De Benedictis M. Cosentino V – L’economia dell’azienda agraria – Teoria e metodi, Il Mulino, 1979 (cap. 12, 13, 14)
- Iacoponi L, Romiti R., Economia e Politica Agraria, Edagricole, 1994 (cap. Il bilancio economico dell’impresa agraria)
- Torquati B, Economia e gestione dell’impresa agraria. Il sole 24 Ore Edagricole (cap.13)
- Bazzani G. Grillenzoni M. Malagoli C. Ragazzoni A, Valutazione delle risorse ambientali, Edagricole, (cap. metodologie monetarie)
- Preti P., L’organizzazione della piccola impresa, Egea, 1991 cap.1 e 4.
Contents
Introduction to the course.
Objectives and contents
Part One: Microeconomics
- Markets, supply and demand
- Individual demand and market demand
- Flexibility and adjustment of the markets
- Production, costs, revenues and profits
- Forms of market
- Market failures and government intervention
Part Two: Agricultural Economics
- The agricultural enterprise
- Farm inputs in agriculture
- Structural analysis of the farms
- Farm income analysis
- Cost-benefit analysis
- The business plan
- The organization of small enterprises
The expected learning outcomes are as follows:
- Knowledge and learning ability
Acquisition of the basic knowledge of microeconomics and capacity to apply the main methodologies of economic analysis of the agricultural firm;
- Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Skills related to microeconomic analysis and ability to apply the methodologies acquired for the economic analysis of the agricultural firm;
- Autonomy of judgment
Capacity for micro-economic analysis and ability to choose and apply the main methodologies of economic analysis of the agricultural firm;
- Communication skills
Ability to display, in oral and written form, the topics dealt with and ability to relate with entrepreneurs and technicians of the sector.
- Learning ability
Knowledge and ability to understand the basic aspects of microeconomics and ability to understand and utilize the main methodologies of economic analysis of the agricultural firm.
More information
Supporting teaching materials provided by the lecturer