AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ASIA

ECO 200 Agricultural Policy, Trade and Development

Spring semester 2014
Course outline and syllabus
Course responsible:
Location:
Prerequisites:
Assessment:

Rahat Sabyrbekov; rahat.sabyrbekov@gmail.com

Tuesdays 13-00 seminar 229/ Thursdays 16-00 lecture
229
ECO 122
midterm exam (40%) & final written exam (60%)

Note: The course outline is subject to change if changes will occur you will be
notified in class and a new version of this document will be published on Ecourse.
Course objectives
The purpose of this course is to provide students with understanding of the
interconnections between development, trade and agricultural policy. Special
emphasis is placed on the role of agricultural policy in development and the
study of influence of the various trade agreements.
Course description
The growing global trade volumes and economic integration problems challenge
the status-quo and governments observe new limitations for agricultural
policies. While trade presents development opportunities it also creates certain
threats for national economies specifically for agricultural sector. The course is
devoted to the study of role of agriculture in the economy, environment, trade
and development
During the course students will be introduced to the main policy analysis tools
and concepts affecting agriculture and development.
Student learning outcomes
Upon the completion of the course a student should be able to:
critically evaluate the role of agriculture in the economy
analyze agricultural sector and its linkage with the development
review available agricultural policies and economic tools
be informed about best practices and policy outcomes
Primary Texts:

Principles of Agricultural Economics: Markets and process in less

developed countries, David Colman & Trevor Young, Cambridge
University Press, 1989
Handbooks in Agricultural Economics, 4 issues (2010 latest).
Grading scale
A
above 85.5 C+
60.0-66.5
A-
85.0-80.5 C
55.0-59.5
B+

75.5-80.0
B
70.5-75.0
B-
67.0-70
CLASS RULES:

C-
D
F

50.0-54.5
45.0-49.5
>45.0

Mobiles phones must be switched off during the class.

Standard AUCA policies on cheating and plagiarism apply.

Date
8 Jan
15 Jan
22 Jan
3 Feb
5 Feb
10 Feb
12 Feb

Tentative Schedule and Lecture Plan

Reading material
Introduction Syllabus and course
outline
I.
Foundations
1. Economics of agricultural
David Colman & Trevor
production
Young: Ch.2
Lab
2. Product supply and input demand
David Colman & Trevor
Young: Ch.3
Lab
3. Analysis of agricultural markets
David Colman & Trevor
Young: Ch.9

24 Feb
26 Feb

Lab
4. Economics of trade. Gentle
Introduction
Lab
5. The economics of agriculture in
developing countries: Role of the
environment
Lab
6. Food and agricultural policy

3 March
5 March

Lab
7. Agriculture and the environment

10 March
12 March

Lab
MIDTERM EXAM
16 20 March Spring break. No classes
II. Empirical findings and Policy
No classes.
8. Common-pool resources and
Gardner and Rausser Vol2A,
institutions
Ch. 24
Lab
9. Agriculture and ecosystem
Gardner and Rausser Vol2A,
services
Ch.25
Lab
10. Agriculture and the
Gardner and Rausser Vol2A,
macroeconomy: developing countries Ch.27
Lab
11. Agriculture and economic
Gardner and Rausser Vol2A,
development
Ch.29
Lab
12. Development Aid and Agriculture Arrow & Intriligator (2010),
Ch.63, p. 227

17 Feb
19 Feb

24 March
26 March
31 March
2 April
7 April
9 April
14 April
16 April
21 April
23 April
28 April
30 April
7 May
14 May

David Colman & Trevor

Young: Ch.11
Gardner and Rausser Vol2A,
Ch.22. P10
David Colman & Trevor
Young: Ch.12
Gardner and Rausser Vol2A,
Ch. 23

Review
16-00 EXAM