AREC 478 - Agricultural Policy

Prerequisite

AREC 202 (Agricultural and Resource Economics) or ECON 202 (Principles of Microeconomics) or AREC 240/ECON 240 (Issues in Environmental Economics).

Description

You should consider this course if you are interested in learning about agricultural policies in the United States. Students who are interested in learning about how policies are made and how they can be influenced will find this course makes them more effective at developing public policy.

Students who take this course will understand how economics can be used to develop "good" policies that are helpful and efficient. They will also learn how economics can explain the politics that determine which policies are passed, implemented and enforced, regardless of whether they the best for everyone or just one special interest.

Students who take this course will have a better understanding of what policies are trying to accomplish and how they can accomplish different goals for different people. In addition to being able to suggest better policies, students in this course will be more able to have their voices heard by understanding the economics behind the politics that make some policies become a reality and others disappear.

This course can be applied towards:

• Agricultural Business (B.S.)

Instructors

Dana Hoag
(970) 491-5549
Dana.Hoag@colostate.edu

Ph.D. Washington State University

Dr. Hoag is a professor at CSU. He is interested in how to analyze and make decisions about issues where agriculture and the environment collide. This includes a cross section of research fields such as policy, production economics, resource economics and regional economics.

Current and recent projects include the use of conservation easements, elk and bison management in Yellowstone, ground and surface water contamination, manure management, invasive species, the economic returns to research, gender and risk, sexed semen in dairy cattle, decision analysis with multiple objectives, sustainability, and nonmarket valuation in wildlife refuges. Dr. Hoag also developed the award-winning RightRisk research and education program for risk management. He has worked with colleagues and state and federal agencies throughout the United States and in South Africa, Bolivia, and Australia.