Speakers and presentation

William Masters, Tufts University | Daniel Sarpong, School of Agriculture, Ghana
Introduction to Economics for Agri-Health Researchers
Presentation slides

Session overview

This Learning Lab will introduce advanced researchers in health, agricultural and veterinary sciences to the analytical methods used by economists to explain and predict behaviour related to food production and markets, and their implications for dietary intake.  The causal framework used in economics begins with individual behaviours and their interactions to generate observed outcomes at the level of each household, community and country.  This Learning Lab will introduce and explain this conceptual framework and provide examples of its empirical application to agriculture and nutrition in Nepal and elsewhere.

Learning objectives and outcomes

Participants will be able to:

• Analyse farm household production choices and dietary intake as the result of individual decision-making, using the framework of production possibilities, indifference curves and relative price lines.
• Analyse household, community and national-level outcomes as the result of social interaction, using the framework of supply, demand and trade with other households, communities or countries.
• Apply these two causal frameworks to practical examples using survey data for individual behaviour, and national data for country-level supply and demand.

Target audience

Doctoral-level researchers with advanced training in the health and veterinary sciences or agriculture, but little or no exposure to economics research methods.

Format, level and prerequisites

Lecture and discussion | Basic | Participants are encouraged to read this material beforehand.