Political Economy of Food and Agriculture
| Numbering Code |
U-ECON00 20403 LJ43 U-ECON00 20403 LJ82 |
Year/Term | 2022 ・ First semester | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Credits | 2 | Course Type | Lecture | |
| Target Year | From 2nd to 4th year students | Target Student | ||
| Language | Japanese | Day/Period | Tue.3 | |
| Instructor name | HISANO SHUJI (Graduate School of Economics Professor) | |||
| Outline and Purpose of the Course | Especially since the mid-1980s, the production base of Japanese agriculture has been deteriorated by policies implemented in the name of "international competitiveness" and "efficiency." Extremely low food self-sufficiency rate, recent confusion over food safety, and the exhaustion of rural and hilly and mountainous areas are the inevitable consequences of such policies. Agriculture is said to be a "multi-value industry" that not only plays a key role in the essential economic value of stable food supply, but also brings about the revitalisation of the local economy and job creation for the elderly and women; it creates ecological and environmental values such as the conservation and cultivation of fertile land, water, biodiversity, and amenities, as well as social and cultural values. Therefore, it is essential to have a perspective on external economies and diseconomies that cannot be properly handled by market principles alone. That is why agricultural economics (including political economy of agriculture) cannot merely be an application and extension of general theories of economics, and it has always been necessary to be brought together with field research and policy research, as well as sociology, geography and other social sciences, agricultural sciences, and environmental sciences. Moreover, the fact that the agricultural policy of any countries has always been based on "agricultural protection" and that even advanced exporters such as the United States, while ostensibly promoting "liberalisation" of agricultural trade through the WTO and FTA/EPA, actually continue to have a generous agricultural protection policy domestically, illustrate that agricultural problems cannot be dealt with solely by the logic of capitalist market economy. In this course, we will focus on the analysis of the current situation of various problems surrounding agriculture and food, by approaching agricultural and food issues from (1) both industry studies and policy studies’ perspectives, (2) historical development perspective, and (3) international comparative perspective, whereby relativising the industrial structure and agricultural policy vertically and horizontally. In terms of the impact of and response to climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic, the idea of sustainability and resilience of agriculture and food will also be taken into consideration. | |||
| Course Goals | This course aims to cultivate the ability of students, by using agriculture and food issues, to critically consider the reality of economies (markets), politics (policies), and society (living world) that mainstream economics tends to overlook. In addition, this course will nurture students’ ability to grasp national and local issues in a global framework and understand contemporary issues in a historical context. | |||
| Schedule and Contents |
「農業と経済」編集委員会監修"新版・キーワードで読みとく現代農業と食料・環境" 昭和堂、2017年） will be used as a reference book. Classes will be given in accordance with the following contents. 1. What are Problems of Agriculture and Food? 2. Various Approaches of Political Economy of Agriculture 3. Historical Development of Agricultural and Food Issues (1) 4. Historical Development of Agricultural and Food Issues (2) 5. The Situation of Food Security of Japan 6. Theory and Policy of Agricultural Prices (1): The Case of Europe and the United States 7. Theory and Policy of Agricultural Prices (2): The Case of Japan 8. Agri-food Distribution and the Wholesale Market System 9. Agricultural Cooperatives and the JA Reform Plan 10. Agricultural Productivity (1): The Case of Biotechnology 11. Agricultural Productivity (2): The Case of Digital Agriculture 12. Covid-19 Pandemic and Agriculture and Food Issues 13. Paradigm Shifts in Agriculture, Farmers, and Rural Areas 14. Summary and Supplementary Discussions 15. Feedback Final exam |
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| Evaluation Methods and Policy | Evaluation is based on the final examination result, but a report may also be assigned during class. In that case, evaluation will be based 60% on the final examination and 40% on the report. | |||
| Course Requirements | None | |||
| Study outside of Class (preparation and review) | The papers, reports, websites, etc. related to the topics covered in the class will be indicated in each lecture, so use them for preparation and review. | |||
| Textbooks | Textbooks/References | Undetermined | ||
| References, etc. | 「農業と経済」編集委員会監修 "新版・キーワードで読みとく現代農業と食料・環境" (昭和堂) ISBN:9784812216149, other references will be provided in class as appropriate | |||
