Information for K-14 Educators

ECONOMIC ISSUES for Food, Agriculture & Natural Resources is a series of booklets available for teachers and students to use in the classroom. The information supplements other teaching materials by relating agricultural-based topics to economics, business, and social issues.

Reprints of the EI titles -- abstracted below -- are free of charge and available from Purdue's Office of Academic Programs. Order by phone (765) 494-8470 or by email <maw@agad.purdue.edu>.

• No. 15, Indiana's Future Landscape - Communities Face Social & Economic Issues (Winter 2000)
• No. 14, The Value of a Summer in Japan (Spring 1999). This title is now available in the PDF format.
• No. 13, Income Inequality and the Education Divide (Fall 1998)
• No. 12, Trade Is a Two-Way Street (Winter 1996)
• No. 11, The Cost of Keeping Up Appearances (Spring/Summer 1996)
• No. 10, Export Advantage: Adding Value to Indiana's Exports (Fall 1995)
• No. 9, Food Processing and Marketing: New Directions, New Opportunities (Spring 1995)
• No. 8, Using Economics and Genetics to Produce Leaner Pork (Spring 1994)
• No. 7, Strategic Marketing for Agribusiness (Winter 1993)
• No. 6, Economic Development for Communities (Winter 1992)
• No. 5, Agricultural Chemical and Fertilizer Storage Rules: Costs and Benefits of Insuring Cleaner Water for Indiana (Fall 1991)
• No. 4, Economic Effects of Technological Advances in Agriculture (Fall 1990)
• No. 3, International Trade in a Global Environment (Spring 1990)
• No. 2, Commodities Trading: An Essential Economics Tool (Fall/Winter 1989/90)
• No. 1, Value Added-Adding Economic Value in the Food Industry (Spring 1989)

No. 15, Indiana's Future Landscape - Communities Face Social & Economic Issues -- Winter 2000

As the Indiana landscape changes, it is important to make good decisions about how the land should be developed in our communities. Housing developments, strip malls, and commercial developments are claiming farmland and wildlife habitats, and this is of concern to many. At the same time, new rural residents and their farm neighbors find themselves in conflict. What can be done to resolve the conflicts of how our land should be used and how new neighboring relationships can be established and maintained.

No. 14, The Value of a Summer in Japan--Spring 1999

Four students participated in a one-of-a-kind program during the summer of 1994, the Purdue-Japan Corporate Internship (JCIP), one of many programs coordinated by the Office of International Programs in Agriculture for its students. These students were asked to reflect on what effect their involvement in this program had on their education and subsequent jobs after graduation. See what path their new careers have taken and what they have to say about the impact of an overseas experience.

No. 13, Income Inequality and the Education Divide--Fall 1998

Due to vast changes in technology and jobs requiring greater skills, it is becoming an ever-more important decision whether to continue education beyond high school. Measures of income distribution show that more educated, more skilled workers are gaining financially compared to lesser-educated and skilled workers. Data are presented from a study of the future macroeconomic environment titled Food System 21: Gearing Up for the New Millennium, a product of the faculty in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University.

No. 12, Trade is a Two-Way Street--Winter 1996

The United States cannot have a comparative advantage in producing all goods. As developing countries upgrade their physical and human capital, they will naturally have the capacity to be major suppliers of many goods. By restricting imports from these developing countries, we are not only raising prices to our consumers, we limit our exports of products in which we have a comparative advantage, in particular food and agricultural products. This issue supports the statement, "we should export what we do best and import the rest."

No. 11, The Cost of Keeping Up Appearances--Spring/Summer 1996

This issue discusses the development of an integrated pest management program developed at Purdue University for landscape professionals which allows pesticide materials to be applied only when the beauty of the landscape is endangered. Students will study the use of the Break-Even Point to illustrate making such a decision.

No. 10, Export Advantage: Adding Value to Indiana's Exports--Fall 1995

United States' agricultural exports are shifting from bulk grain and meal commodities to high-value fresh or frozen meat and poultry products. Find out what is causing this shift, what well-established and new world markets are emerging, and what this means for the food processing industry in the United States.

No. 9, Food Processing and Marketing: New Directions, New Opportunities--Spring 1995

Through a joint effort of economic analysis and technology, the dying tomato processing industry in the Midwest, which had lost a major comparative advantage to California, was revitalized. Discover how the process of aseptic processing allowed the tomato industry to greatly increase its economies of scale and become the most competitive in the world.

No. 8, Using Economics and Genetics to Produce Leaner Pork--Spring 1994

A careful study of swine genetics and efficiency of production factors has helped producers select breeding stock to provide leaner meat without increasing production cost. This issue helps students understand the concept of net present value.

No. 7, Strategic Marketing for Agribusiness--Winter 1993

By understanding the marketing planning process and the economics of consumer buying decisions, managers of food and agricultural business can make better decisions to help their businesses become more profitable. In a case study format, this issue helps students understand the concept of demand elasticity.

No. 6, Economic Development for Communities--Winter 1992

Explore with students how successful economic development in a community involves an effort to export products and services to other communities, states, or nations and thus import dollars to the community.

No. 5, Agricultural Chemical and Fertilizer Storage Rules: Costs and Benefits of Insuring Cleaner Water for Indiana--Fall 1991

Better understand costs of complying with regulations to ensure containment of chemical spills in relation to environmental costs. The concept of a public good is illustrated in this issue.

No. 4, Economic Effects of Technological Advances in Agriculture--Fall 1990

A better understanding of agricultural economic concepts helps Americans become better food buyers, be more knowledgeable about food values, and appreciate their relatively cheap, high-quality food supply. Study how the use of biotechnology has microeconomic implications for the animal industries and consumers. Supply and demand curves illustrate the determination of the pork price and quantities produced and consumed as a result of one biotechnical development in the swine industry.

No. 3, International Trade in a Global Environment--Spring 1990

Many factors affecting U.S. trade are beyond our control. However, the United States and its citizens do control macro economic policy, trade policy and domestic farm policy. Market, command and traditional economies, opportunity costs, along with other trade concepts including GATT (General Agreements on Trade and Tariffs), are discussed.

No. 2, Commodities Trading: An Essential Economics Tool--Fall/Winter 1989/90

This issue discusses the use of commodities trading (futures contracts and options) as an important economic tool to benefit both buyers and sellers in today's agricultural and natural resources marketing environment.

No. 1, Value Added: Adding Economic Value in the Food Industry--Spring 1989 (first in the series)

The concept of value added is discussed using the pork product, sausage, to add value by making frozen pizzas. Questions discussed include jobs created by value added processes and using value added to calculate Gross Domestic Product.

For more information on the Economic Issues series, contact:

Mary A. Welch
Purdue University
College of Agriculture
1140 AGAD
West Lafayette IN 47907-1140
Phone: 765.494.8470
E-mail: maw@agad.purdue.edu