AGEC 105 Introduction to Agricultural Economics Dr. Oral Capps, Jr.

TA Information

Romer, David. “Do Students Go to Class? Should They?” Journal of Economic Perspectives Summer 1993: Attendance counts in economics courses indicates that absenteeism is rampant About one-third of students are not in class The difference in performance between a student who attends regularly and one who attends sporadically is about a full letter grade!

Justification for AGEC The level of basic economic literacy among U.S. citizens is appalling according to a recent national survey conducted by the Gallup organization and the National Council on Economic Education

UNITS Introduction to the Field The Food & Fiber Industry Understanding Consumer Behavior Business Behavior & Market Equilibrium Government in the Agricultural Sector Macroeconomics of Agriculture International Trade

What is your EQ? EQ = Economics Quotient Similar to IQ (Intelligence Quotient) Opportunity to Earn Additional (extra credit) Points

Do You Know? The current U.S. Secretary of Agriculture is ______. On average, the U.S. farmer gets ______ cents from each dollar spent on food by consumers. The current Commissioner of Agriculture of Texas is ______. U.S. consumers spend about ______ percent of their disposable personal income on food. 20% of U.S. farmers produce_______% of U.S. agriculture output.

Do You Know? The acronym GDP stands for. The index most frequently used by economists to measure inflation is the. policy refers to changes in government spending and taxation. The number of U.S. farmers is roughly million.

Do You Know? Crude oil prices are $______ per barrel. The chairman of the Federal Reserve System is _______. The letter K on your dollar refers to which Federal Reserve Bank? The current inflation rate is ___________. The current unemployment rate is _______. The agricultural sector accounts for what percent of the GDP in the United States? _______% The GDP of the United States is roughly $________ trillion.

AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS -- THE OLDEST PROFESSION? Who was the first Agricultural Economist?

What is Agricultural Economics? Chapter 1

Bless the Lord, O my soul, thou dost cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the Earth. Psalm 104

Topics of Discussion SCOPE OF ECONOMICS Scarce Resources Making Choices DEFINITION OF ECONOMICS Microeconomics versus Macroeconomics Positive versus Normative Economics Alternative Economic Systems DEFINITION OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS WHAT DOES AN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST DO? Role at the Microeconomic Level Role at the Macroeconomic Level Marginal Analysis

Scarce Resources qNatural and biological resources  Natural: land, mineral deposits, water  Biological: livestock, crops qHuman resources  labor qManufactured resources  capital, machines, equipment, structures Page 2

Making Choices qResource scarcity forces consumers and producers to make choices qOpportunity cost – an implicit cost associated with economic decisions qSpecialization – comparative advantage and the basis for trade qIndividual decisions – maximization of consumer utility and producer profits qSocietal decisions – production possibilities given existing resources Pages 3-4

Opportunity Cost The implicit cost associated with the next best alternative in a set of choices available to decision-makers. Opportunity cost associated with pursuing a degree at Texas A&M University.

Problem 8 in Chapter 1

An Example of Specialization

Relative strengths of Kansas

Relative strengths of Idaho

Relative strengths of Florida

Page 4 Each state specializes in what it does best and trades with other states… Each state specializes in what it does best and trades with other states…

Page 4 Each state specializes in what it does best and trades with other states… Each state specializes in what it does best and trades with other states…

Page 4 Each state specializes in what it does best and trades with other states… Each state specializes in what it does best and trades with other states…

Page 4 Each state specializes in what it does best and trades with other states… Each state specializes in what it does best and trades with other states…

Scope of Economics qMicroeconomics versus macroeconomics 4Micro - individuals or groups of individuals 4Macro - broad aggregates at economy level qPositive versus normative economics 4Positive - “what is”, or “what would happen if” 4Normative - “what should be” qAlternative economic systems 4Capitalism and socialism 4U.S. has mixed economic system Pages 5-6

Definition of Economics “…a social science that deals with how consumers, producers and societies choose among the alternative uses of scarce resources in the process of producing, exchanging, and consuming goods and services”. Page 5

What is Agricultural Economics? “…an applied social science that deals with how producers, consumers and societies use scarce resources in the production, processing, marketing and consumption of food and fiber products”. Page 6

Changes in Agricultural Sector Tweeten, L., and C. Zulauf, “Public Policy for Agriculture After Commodity Programs,”Review of Agricultural Economics 19,2(Fall/Winter 1997): “80-20 Rule” -- 20% of farmers produce 80% of output Agriculture as a family-farm way of life is being replaced by agriculture as a big business United agricultural establishment is being replaced by fragmented interest groups Increased reliance on monetary contributions in the political arena

Importance of off-farm income Destiny of agriculture rests with service as well as production activities Computer literacy important Education and other support systems are essential Reduced government profile in agriculture is a reality International competitiveness

What Does an Agricultural Economist Do? Role at microeconomic level  Production economists  Market economists  Financial economists  Resource economists Role at macroeconomic level Marginal Analysis

IMPORTANT WEBSITES  Capps http: //  USDA //  Federal Reserve Economic Database

Please do all problems in Chapter 1 (see page 9) Review Graphical Analysis (pages 10-12)