AREC 464
Economics of Policy Analysis
Syllabus for Fall 2016
AREC 464
Economics of Policy Analysis
Fall 2016
Tu Th 9:30–10:45
AM, Room 302 Harvill
Course Description
Applied economic theory
and method of policy analysis and public choice. Emphasis is on policies
affecting agriculture and rural America—especially government intervention
in agricultural markets. The course introduces basic tools of quantitative, economic policy analysis. Students will learn how these tools can be applied to diverse issues: pesticide regulation, evaluation of biotechnology, invasive species control, international trade policies, and water rationing.
Instructor: Dr. George Frisvold
Office:
308B McClelland Park
Phone: 621-6269
Email: frisvold@ag.arizona.edu
Office hours: Tuesday & Thursday 11:15 – 1:00 PM or by appointment
Teaching Assistant: Xin “Jessica” Qiao
Office: 301C McClelland
Park
Phone: (520) 247-2969
Email: qiaoxin1028@email.arizona.edu
Office hours: Mon and Wed, 1:00–3:00 PM
Prerequisites: ECON 300 or ECON 361 or AREC 315; MATH 113.
Course Website
Problem sets, problem set answer sheets, and
quiz answer sheets will be handed out in class and posted to the course
website (http://ag.arizona.edu/classes/arec464/) throughout the semester.
You will need a login and password to get readings and problem sets from the website. You can get login and password information in class.
Course Reading, Resources, Requirements, and Grading
Required
Reading
The course textbook is Introduction to
Agricultural Economics, 6th Edition John Penson,
Oral Capps, C. Parr Rosson, Richard Woodward,
©2015 | Pearson https://www.vitalsource.com/referral?term=9780133493399
You can
buy or rent this as an E-book for prices “starting at” $75.99 or you can
order a hard copy $186.20 http://www.mypearsonstore.com/bookstore/introduction-to-agricultural-economics-9780133379488?xid=PSED
Everything
you need from this textbook for the course is available in the cheaper,
electronic version.
Other readings on policy topics are also required. Some will be available for download as pdf files on the password-protected course reading list site. Other materials will come from economics blogs that you can view online and/or download and/or print yourself.
Assignments
• Four
(4) problem sets (best 3 of 4 grades count)
• Four (4) quizzes (best 3 of 4 grades count)
• Group project/presentation
• An
open book, open note final exam
Grading
| Points | Percent | Grade |
|---|---|---|
270–300 |
>90% |
A |
240 – 269 |
80–89% |
B |
210 – 239 |
70–79% |
C |
180 – 209 |
60–69% |
D |
Below
180 |
<60% |
F |
Points are allocated as follows.
| Assignments | Points | % of Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Problem Sets | 90 points (30 points for each of 3) | 30% |
| Quizzes | 90 points (30 points for each or 3) | 30% |
| Final Exam | 100 points | 40% |
What happens if you turn in a problem set late?
Students are to turn in problem sets in class on the day they are due.
If you know you are going to be away, you can always turn a problem set
in early. Scores on late problem sets will be marked down 20%. After the
answer key and graded problem sets are handed out in class, you will get
no points for turning in that problem set.
Special Needs
Students needing
special accommodations or special services should contact the Disability
Resource Center (http://drc.arizona.edu/)
and/or the SALT Center (http://www.salt.arizona.edu/).
Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to fully
participate in course activities or meet course requirements must register
with the Disability Resource Center (DRC). If you qualify for services
through DRC, please bring your letter of accommodation to me as soon as
possible.
CALENDAR OF TOPICS, READINGS, AND ASSIGNMENTS
| Week | Topics | Assignments | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (8/23, 25) | Course
Overview |
|||
| 2 (8/30, 9/1) | Welfare Economics Building
Blocks:
Demand & Consumer Surplus
Supply & Producer Surplus |
|||
| 3 (9/6, 8) | Supply
& Demand: Elasticities and Curve Shifts
Applications:
Air pollution, R&D, Pesticide Regulation, Advertising Programs, Tax
Incidence,
|
Problem Set 1 due (9/8) | ||
| 4 (9/13, 15) | Imperfect Competition: Monopoly, Oligopoly, Monopolistic
Competition
Applications: Anti-trust policy, patents |
Quiz 1 (9/15) | ||
| 5 (9/20, 22) | Imperfect Competition: Monopsony, Oligopsony,
Monopsonistic Competition
Applications: Meatpacking, Processed Food, Labor Unions,
Minimum Wages
|
|||
| 6 (9/27, 29) | Simple Trade Models |
Problem Set 2 due (9/29) | ||
| 7 (10/4, 6) | Debates over Trade and Globalization | Quiz 2 (10/6) | ||
| 8 (10/11, 13) | Trade Policies: Tariffs, Quotas, Trade Bans | |||
| 9 (10/18, 20) | Macroeconomics Building Blocks:
|
Problem Set 3 due (10/20) | ||
| 10 (10/25, 27) | Macroeconomic Stabilization:
Fiscal Policy |
Quiz 3 (10/27) | ||
| 11 (11/1, 3) | From the Great Moderation to the Great Recession:
Evaluating Policy Responses |
|||
| 12 (11/8, 10) | Can
Economics Predict Presidential Elections? Secular Stagnation |
Problem Set 4 due (11/10) | ||
| 13 (11/15, 17) | The National Debt
Entitlement Programs: Social Security, Medicare, & Medicai |
Quiz 4 (11/17) | ||
| 14 (11/22, 24) | Topic TBA Thanksgiving holiday |
|||
| 15 (11/29, 12/1) | Entitlement Programs (continued)
Controlling the National Debt: Differences in Generational Priorities |
|||
| 16 (12/6) | Review of Course Topics | |||
| Final Exam (12/13) | Final is open book, open note in 302 Harvill from 8:00 – 10:00AM, Tuesday, 12/13/2016 |
Last updated
August 24, 2016.
Document located at http://ag.arizona.edu/classes/arec464/syllabus.html
website contact: arecweb@ag.arizona.edu