Topics in Microeconomic Theory: Food Markets and Agribusinesses

Type: Postgraduate course / Compulsory

Direction: Agricultural Economics and Food Business

Moderator: Κ. Galanopoulos

Semester: 1^st

ECTS: 7.5

Instructors: Κ. Galanopoulos / invited speakers

E-mail: kgalanop@agro.duth.gr

Tel. office: 25520 41114

Webpage: http://pms.agro.duth.gr/index.files/PECON04_COURSE.htm

Cooperation with students: upon request (via email))

Course description:

Consumer Theory and Consumer Choices. Production Theory (Technology, Production Functions, Cost Curves, Cost Minimization and Production maximization). Markets and Businesses (Perfect Competition, Monopoly, Oligopoly, Monopolistic Competition). Forms of business. Analysis and Corporate Finance. Business decisions with risk and uncertainty. Operation and organization of the marketing chain.

Web Course venue:
https://eclass.duth.gr/courses/OPE01183/index.php

Indicative teaching material:

Quantitative Models for Performance Evaluation and Benchmarking. J. Zhu. ISBN 1-4020-7082-9

An Introduction to Efficiency and Productivity Analysis. 1998. Coelli, T., Prasada Rao, D.S., Battese, G.E. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Massachusetts

Microeconomic Theory Principles. Volume I – Microeconomics. G.N. Mankiw, M.P.Taylor. 978-960-01-1328-0

Micoreconomics. R.A. Arnold. 978-960-489-144-3

Additional bibliographic sources are available to students who participate in this course through the website of the course (e-class).

Learning outcomes

After completion of the course students should be able to:

• Understand the operation of food markets and consumer behavior
  • Understand the operation and organization of business with a focus on agribusiness and food businesses
  • Successfully use microeconomic tools to analyze food business operational issues (e.g. break-even point analysis, cost minimisation, etc.)
  • Focus on complex market analysis research and economic food business
  • Use specialized software and modern technologies to solve business problems.

Evaluation methods:

·       Written exam at end of semester

·       Submit written work during the semester and an oral presentation.

Final score: It arises from the sum of the following (maximum score: 100 points):
1. Course examination (end of semester): 70 points
2.  Assignments and presentations: 30 points

Lecture program of the course ” Topics in Microeconomic Theory: Food Markets and Agribusinesses”