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NA0198 Analysis of productivity and efficiency of food system firms, 7.5 Credits
Produktivitets- och effektivitetsanalys av företag i livsmedelssystemet
Subjects
Economics
Education cycle
Master’s level
Modules
Title
Credits
Code
Single module
7.5
0001
Advanced study in the main field
Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Master’s level (A1N)
Grading scale
5:Pass with Distinction, 4:Pass with Credit, 3:Pass, U:Fail
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
English
Prior knowledge
Knowledge equivalent to
Bachelor’s degree of at least 180 credits, with the main field of study, at least 90 credits, in an economics or business subject
15 credits statistics
15 credits economics at second-cycle level
English 6
Objectives
The course aims at providing students with advanced understanding of performance measurement and assessment of firms in the food system, with a specific focus on the agricultural component of the system. The course also discusses performance in relation to various types of risk exposure of firms.
After completing the course, the student should be able to:
conceptualise firm performance in terms of productivity and efficiency
measure and estimate firm productivity and efficiency using empirical methods
critically discuss reasons for production inefficiencies
analyse risk exposure of firms and discuss how it can impact productivity and efficiency
describe sustainability performance measurement and discuss it in relation to production efficiency.
Content
Subject content:
The course starts with a review of productivity and efficiency analysis and of how productivity and efficiency can be estimated using empirical methods. After this follows impact evaluation of production efficiency and a critical assessment of reasons for inefficiency. The course ends with a review on risk exposure and how it can affect productivity and efficiency and with a review of sustainability performance measurement and how it relates to production efficiency.
Course implementation:
The course uses different teaching methods to promote students' learning and discussions through:
Lectures, exercises, seminars, group work and individual studies.
The course focuses on the following general competences:
Critical thinking, scientific methods, independence.
The following components are compulsory:
Seminars.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Formats and requirements for examination
Passed written exam
Approved participation in compulsory components.
Approved written report.
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Responsible department
Department of Economics
Further information
Determined by:Programnämnden för utbildning inom naturresurser och jordbruk
Replaces:NA0181
Book:
Coelli, T., Rao, D., O’Donnell, C., and Battese, G. (2005). An introduction to efficiency and productivity analysis. An Introduction To Efficiency and Producvitity Analysis.
Articles:
Färe, R., Grosskopf, S., Lovell, C. A. K., and Yaisawarng, S. (1993). Derivation of Shadow Prices for Undesirable Outputs - a Distance Function-Approach. The Review of Economics and Statistics 75: 374–380.
Brümmer, B., Glauben, T., and Thijssen, G. (2002). Decomposition of Productivity Growth Using Distance Functions: The Case of Dairy Farms inThree European Countries. American Journal of Agricultural Economics84: 628–644.
Färe, R., Grosskopf, S., Noh, D.-W. W., and Weber, W. (2005). Characteristics of a polluting technology: theory and practice. Journal of Econometrics 126: 469–492.
Cuesta, R. a., Lovell, C. A. K. A. K., Zofío, J. L., and Zofio, J. L. (2009). Environmental efficiency measurement with translog distance functions: A parametric approach. Ecological Economics68: 2232–2242.
Latruffe, L., and Nauges, C. (2014). Technical efficiency and conversion to organic farming: The case of France. European Review of Agricultural Economics 41: 227–253.
Njuki, E., and Bravo-Ureta, B. E. (2015). The Economic Costs of Environmental Regulation in U.S. Dairy Farming: A Directional Distance Function Approach. American Journal of Agricultural Economics97: 1087–1106.
Picazo-Tadeo, A. J., Beltrán-Esteve, M., and Gómez-Limón, J. A. (2012). Assessing eco-efficiency with directional distance functions. European Journal of Operational Research 220: 798–809.
Guesmi, B., and Serra, T. (2015). Can we improve farm performance? The determinants of farm technical and environmental efficiency. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy 37: 692–717.
Pérez Urdiales, M., Lansink, A. O., and Wall, A. (2016). Eco-efficiency Among Dairy Farmers: The Importance of Socio-economic Characteristics and Farmer Attitudes. Environmental and Resource Economics 64: 559–574.
Huang, W., and Bruemmer, B. (2017). Balancing economic revenue and grazing pressure of livestock grazing on the Qinghai-Tibetan-Plateau. Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics 61: 645–662.
Hansson, H. H., Manevska-Tasevska, G., and Asmild, M. (2018). Rationalising inefficiency in agricultural production - the case of Swedish dairy agriculture. European Review of Agricultural Economics 47: 1–24.
Martinez Cillero, M., Wallace, M., Thorne, F., and Breen, J. (2021). Analyzing the Impact of Subsidies on Beef Production Efficiency in Selected European Union Countries. A Stochastic Metafrontier Approach. American Journal of Agricultural Economics103: 1903–1923.
Koiry, S., and Huang, W. (2023). Do Ecological Protection Approaches Affect Total Factor Productivity Growth of Cropland Production in Sweden? Ecological Economics209: 107829.
Course facts
The course is offered as an independent course: Yes
The course is offered as a programme course:
Agriculture and Business ManagementAgriculture and EconomicsAgricultural, Food and Environmental Policy Analysis (AFEPA) - Master's ProgrammeAgricultural Economics and Management - Master's ProgrammeAgricultural Science with a Specialisation in Economics and Business AdministrationAgriculture Programme - Economics and ManagementTuition fee: Tuition fee only for non-EU/EEA/Switzerland citizens: 13090 SEKCycle: Master’s level (A1N)
Subject:
Economics
Course code: NA0198Application code: SLU-20156Location: UppsalaDistance course: NoLanguage: EnglishResponsible department: Department of EconomicsPace: 50%