Agricultural economic development
Dr Ian Wills
Two 1.5 hour lectures per week * First semester * Clayton
Objectives On completion of this subject students should be able to explain how agriculture can contribute to the growth of the rest of the economy in poor countries; understand the complexity, diversity and uncertainty of third-world rural environments, and the importance of both technical and behavioural changes in these environments; recognise the possible production, distributional and social consequences of introducing modern agricultural technologies into poor rural societies; be able to assess critically the usefulness of microeconomic theory when used as a policy tool in agricultural development.
Synopsis Microeconomic theory is used to analyse the reasons for low agricultural productivity and possible means of raising productivity in poor countries; the definition of development and sustainable development; characteristics of the rural economy in poor countries; agriculture's role as a source of food, labour, capital and foreign exchange; agriculture-industry linkages; technology, culture and institutions in poor rural societies; theories of technical and institutional change; the `Green Revolution' in rural Asia as an example of technical and institutional change and its consequences.
Assessment Written (4000-word essay): 45% * Three assignments (1000 words each): 35% * Oral presentation: 10% * Class participation: 10%