Economics and Management Agri-food Chain

Abstract

The main objective of this lecture is to improve the theoretical knowledge in business economics and to improve the skills about management in the agri food vlaue chain. The main focal point is the assessment of the the comparative advantage of value chains in international competition.

Objective

1.To understand the basic theories and the theoretical state of the art related to Economics combined with management in economy 2.To understand the economic part of the real world with this theoretical background 3.To know methodological skills to assess competitiveness of firms, economic sectors or economies as a whole 4.To learn reading scientific texts and documents, to summarize and to present them 5.To progress in knowledge acquisition depending from the individual starting point 6.To understand especially the situation of the Swiss food value chain as a case study 7.To have direct contact with responsible persons of the Swiss agri-food chain 8.To learn that scientific affirmations can also be discussed in a controversy way 9.To learn working independently by own and in team and to share knowledge and experience

Content

Issue 1: Economics of strategy in entrepreneurship from a theoretical point of view. Understanding, comparative advantage and competitiveness from a theoretical point of view. Competitiveness issues from a methodological point of view; how to measure competitiveness at national level, sector level, firm level Issue 2: Strategies in the Swiss Agri-food Chain; outlook to management strategies for structural and portfolio adjustment branch level Issue 3: Case studies to analyze and to improve strategy in different contexts of the Swiss food chain (different cases, to discuss)

Resources