Law, Economics and the American Food System

Catalog description

In this course, students explore the American food system through the lens of (a) microeconomic theory; (b) the U.S. legal system; (c) policy and politics; and (d) history. In couching food system “wicked” problems as market failures, students complete an extensive research project that culminates in the development and presentation of a private market or public policy solution to the negative human health, ecological, economic and/or outcomes of agricultural/food market failures, including externalities, public goods deficiencies and abuse of market power. This course serves as a primer for additional study of the interaction of law and economics in determining the nature and performance of food systems and society more generally.