Module: International Food and Agricultural Trade (4902-420)

Persons:

• Dr. Kirsten Boysen-Urban (verantwortlich)

Degree Program:

• Agribusiness (Master, since 01.10.2014)
  2. Semester, elective
• Agricultural Sciences - Agricultural Economics (Master, since 01.10.2014)
  2. Semester, semi-elective
• Organic Agriculture and Food Systems (Master, since 01.10.2014)
  2. Semester, elective
• Agribusiness (Master, since 01.04.2019)
  2. Semester, elective
• Bioeconomy (Master, since 01.10.2014)
  2. Semester, elective
• Bioeconomy (starting WS 16/17) (Master, since 01.04.2017)
  2. Semester, elective

Relation to other Modules:

This module is particularly important for students who see their career in national and international organizations dealing with agricultural trade. This module builds on introductory economics lectures such as “Basis Micro- and Macroeconomics” (4201-021, 4202-022) and “Economic and Environmental Policy” (4201-440). The modules “International Food and Agricultural Trade” (4902-420) and “Agricultural and Food Policy” (4201-410) are complement to each other. In addition, the module “Microeconomics” (4202-451) supports the understanding of international trade theory. Module (4902-420) teaches knowledge that is the basis for more advanced agricultural policy modeling such as introduced in the module “Advanced Policy Analysis Modeling” (4201-420).

Prerequisites for Attendance:

Students must have a solid background in microeconomics and some macroeconomics is required as well. Successfully completed courses in both of these subjects at the undergraduate level are essential and assumed. If these requirements are not met, any undergraduate textbook in microeconomics can be consulted as a preparation for this module and / or the participation in the module “Economics and Environmental Policy” (4201-440) is recommended.

Sprache:

English

ECTS:

6 credits

Frequency:

every summer semester

Length of the Module:

1 semester

Compulsory assignment:

Presentation in groups (25%)

Final examination:

Written exam (75 %)

Length of the examination:

90 minutes

Workload:

56 h presence + 104 h preparation at home + exam = 160 h workload

Professional competences:

After successfully completing this module students should be able to perform the following:

Students…
· explain, differentiate between and qualify the key concepts of the theory of international economics with focus on international trade theory.
· apply core models of international trade to determine the patterns of trade, interpret the effects, generalize the results and thus understand standard theorems using graphical representations and/ or equation systems.
· discuss and reason why countries engage in international trade of goods and services and comment on actual trade pattern.
· describe and classify the effects of trade policy instruments and apply methods to assess and evaluate their effects.
· exemplify linkages of international trade with macroeconomic theory using key concepts of international economics
· characterize the development of international trade negotiations and explain their contribution to the development of world trade.
· discuss and evaluate topics currently on the trade agenda.

Key competences:

During the module, students learn to work self-reliantly through preparation for and recapitulation of the lectures as well as for the exam and participating in the group work. They regularly solve and submit homework exercises, write group work assignments and/or prepare presentations within given time periods thereby improving their time management skills. Within the group work, students develop a common work approach, distribute individual tasks, as well as discuss and present the results of their group work improving their ability to work in teams. Students read and understand scientific articles and use online databases. In so doing, they improve in identifying and extracting relevant information. Regularly students understand, analyze and interpret models' results thereby training their analytical thinking skills. Based on analysis results, they practice deriving economically reasoned conclusions. Through presentations of results students practice preparing clear figures and tables that support their argumentation and precisely communicate crucial information. This way they improve their presentation skills.

eLearning:

Course in ILIAS

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