This course considers economic concepts concerned with market structures, agricultural marketing policy and institutions, the economics of advertising and product promotion, international marketing problems, and the operation of central commodity exchanges. Selected commodity case studies of food and agricultural marketing are examined. The agricultural sector is at the heart of both problems. The broad aim of the unit is to examine how economics can aid understanding of the causes of these problems and in formulating appropriate policy responses. Material taught is a combination of theory and application using examples drawn from the agricultural sector.
Extensive use is made of case studies of particular firms.
Formal talks are complemented by practical workshops to reinforce the techniques presented.