Course Syllabus
AED Economics 597.01 (call number 00271-7)
and International Studies 597.01 (call number 12482-4)
“Problems and Policies in World Population, Food, and Environment”
Autumn 2008
Lectures Monday and Wednesday, 2:30 to 4:18, Room 255, Townshend Hall
Instructor Professor Douglas Southgate
Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics
Room 329, Agricultural Administration Building
2120 Fyffe Road
292-2432, southgate.1@osu.edu
Teaching Kyle Fluegge (fluegge.1@osu.edu), 342 Agr. Admin., 292-9516
Assistants Emilio Hernández (hernandez.162@osu.edu), 314 Agr. Admin., 292-9424
Malena Svarch (svarch.1@osu.edu), 342 Agr. Admin., 292-9516
Secretary Susan Sheller, Department of AED Economics
240 Agr. Admin., 292-6432, sheller.1@osu.edu
Web Site On Carmen (http://www.carmen.osu.edu), under AEDE 597.01 only.
Readings D. Southgate, D. Graham, and L. Tweeten, The World Food Economy
(Basil Blackwell, 2006). Other assigned readings are on the class website.
Objectives This course addresses population growth and the challenges it poses – in particular, the
challenge of providing everyone with an adequate diet while simultaneously conserving
the natural resources on which agriculture and other economic activities depend. Since
human numbers are increasing more rapidly in poor countries than anywhere else, special
attention is paid to population growth and the prospects for environmentally sound
agricultural development in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The problems arising as a
transition is made from communism to a market economy are examined as well since
agricultural development has lagged, environmental deterioration has been pronounced,
or both in many of the nations experiencing this transition.
Grading and A midterm examination, worth 35 points, will be held on Monday, November 3 rd.
Due Dates A non-cumulative final, worth 45 points, will take place from 1:30 to 3:18 on
Wednesday, December 10th.
As explained in a separate handout, three term papers, each worth 40 points, are required. The
first is due at the beginning of class on Monday, October 20th. The second and the third
are due at the beginning of class on Monday, November 10th, and Wednesday, December
3rd, respectively.
,GEC 597.01 satisfies the tenth GEC requirement, which is a “capstone
Eligibility experience.” Such courses are upper-division and thematic. In addition, they draw on
multiple disciplines and enrich students’ experiences of the contemporary world. There
are two learning objectives of capstone courses: One is that students “synthesize and
apply knowledge from diverse disciplines to contemporary issues.” The main discipline
drawn on in this course, which focuses on contemporary issues in the global food
economy, is economics, although demography and environmental geography are used as
well. The other objective is that they “write about or conduct research on the
contemporary world,” hence the three term papers required in 597.01
Policies Due Dates. There will be a four-points-per-weekday penalty for any paper submitted after the
beginning of the class session on the due date. No term papers will be accepted a week
after the due date.
Redemption. Either the first paper or the second, though not both, can be rewritten, with 4 points
deducted from the revised paper’s score (out of 40 possible). Rewriting the third paper
will not be an option. Revised versions of the first term paper must be submitted by the
beginning of class on November 5th. Revised second papers are due at the beginning of
class on November 19th.
Attendance. At various times, including perhaps twice during the same class session,
attendance will be taken. Any student who is absent without an excuse (e.g., note from a
medical clinic, obituary notice for a relative who has passed away, etc.) when the roll is
taken on three or more occasions will have his or her class grade lowered by 20 points.
Attendance will be posted on the class web page.
Academic Misconduct. It is the responsibility of the Committee on Academic
Misconduct to investigate or establish procedures for the investigation of all reported
cases of student academic misconduct. The term “academic misconduct” includes all
forms of student academic misconduct wherever committed; illustrated by, but not
limited to, cases of plagiarism and dishonest practices in connection with examinations.
Instructors shall report all instances of alleged academic misconduct to the committee
(Faculty Rule 3335-5-487). For additional information, see the Code of Student Conduct
(http://studentaffairs.osu.edu/info_for_students/csc.asp).
Learning Disabilities. Students with disabilities that have been certified
by the Office for Disability Services will be appropriately
accommodated, and should inform the instructor as soon as
possible of their needs. The Office for Disability Services is
located in 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue; telephone 292-
3307, TDD 292-0901; http://www.ods.ohio-state.edu/.
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, Topical Outline and Reading Assignments
24 Sept. - Introduction. Survey of developing and transition economies.
1 Oct.
S-G-T, Chapters 1 and 9.
1 Oct. Malthusian model and criticisms of same.
S-G-T, Chapter 2, section 2.1 only.
Fogel, R.W. 2004. “Health, Nutrition, and Economic Growth” Economic Development
and Cultural Change 52, pp. 643-658.
Johnson, D.G. 2000. “Population, Food, and Knowledge” American Economic Review
90, pp. 1-14.
6-15 Oct. Demand side. Population growth and the demographic transition. Economic progress
and food consumption. Projections of future population and food consumption.
S-G-T, Chapter 2, remaining sections.
15-27 Oct. Supply side. Climate and soils. Extensification versus intensification. Green
Revolution. Biotechnology and genetic modification.
S-G-T, Chapter 3.
29 Oct. - Agricultural markets and policy. Price trends.
3 Nov.
S-G-T, Chapter 4.
5-10 Nov. Agriculture and the environment. Market and intervention failure. Farmland
degradation, deforestation, and other problems. Environmental Kuznets Curve.
S-G-T, Chapter 5.
12-17 Nov. Agriculture and international trade. Globalization.
S-G-T, Chapter 6.
19-24 Nov. Agriculture and economic development.
S-G-T, Chapter 7.
24 Nov. - Food security. Economic development and hunger alleviation.
1 Dec.
S-G-T, Chapter 8.
1-3 Dec. Emerging issues. Biotechnology. Food safety. The obesity epidemic.
S-G-T, Chapter 16.
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, Food Security and Globalization
AED ECON/IS 532, Fall 2008
Ohio State University
Instructor:
Mike Betz
Dept. of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics
317 Agricultural Administration Building
E-mail: betz.40@osu.edu
Teaching Assistant: Michael Kidoido; email: kidoido.1@osu.edu.
Time/Place: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30-3:18 p.m. Room 34, Lazenby Hall.
Prerequisite: AEDE 200 or Econ 200 or permission of the instructor.
Credit: 5 credit hours
Course Website: http://carmen.osu.edu
Office Hours: Send questions by email any time or talk with me in person before or
after class. No formal office hours are scheduled but I can generally meet on short
notice if necessary.
Course Objectives: Global food security is a complex issue, with many factors
contributing to hunger and malnutrition. We will consider these factors in historical and
contemporary contexts so as to have a more complete understanding of the subject.
There are five main topics that I would like you to be conversant with after completing
the course.
1. Definitions of food security and related terms (malnutrition, hunger, poverty, etc.);
2. The magnitude and geographical distribution of food insecurity in the world today;
3. The primary natural, economic, political, and social causes of food insecurity;
4. Institutions, policies, and technology that can improve food security;
5. The major food security problems of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the two
parts of the world where hunger is most prevalent.
In addition you will be exposed to informational resources that will allow you to continue
learning about global food security issues beyond the scope of this class.
Grading: Your performance in the course will be assessed as follows:
Weight
Item
(percent)
Class participation 10
Quizzes (weekly, weighted equally) 15
Personal food consumption homework exercise 5
Short papers (2, each worth 15%) 30
Midterm exam 20
Final exam 20
Total 100
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