Market Assessment and Analysis: Learner’s Notes

Market Assessment and Analysis: Learner's Notes

This document presents the "Learner's Notes" that accompany a distance learning course on Market Assessment and Analysis. The course illustrates how markets operate and how they relate to and affect food security and vulnerable households. It describes market components and how they function and introduces some of the methods and indicators used to assess markets for improving food security analysis. Patricia Bonnard, the Senior Market and Trade Advisor for FEWS NET, developed this course for FAO. It is one component of a larger module on Food Security Information for Action.

The larger module includes the following courses: - Food Security Information Systems and Networks - Reporting Food Security Information - Availability Assessment and Analysis - Baseline Food Security Assessments - Food Security Concepts and Frameworks - Collaboration and Advocacy Techniques - Livelihoods Assessment and Analysis - Markets Assessment and Analysis - Nutritional Status Assessment and Analysis - Food Security Policies - Formulation and Implementation - Targeting - Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis

FAO Distance Learning courses offer self-paced e-learning, developed by international experts to support capacity building and on-the-job Training and Workshops at national and local food security information systems and networks. The Market Assessment and Analysis course available on the internet at takes approximately 2 hours to complete. It is also available free on CD-ROM.

Food Security Information for Action

Markets Assessment and Analysis Lesson 1

Markets and Food Security Learners' Notes

This course is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization

of the United Nations ? FAO, 2008

Course ? Markets Assessment and Analysis Lesson 1 ? Markets and Food Security

Table of contents

Learning objectives .......................................................................................................2 Introduction....................................................................................................................3 What are markets? ........................................................................................................4 Supply and demand ......................................................................................................7 The market system......................................................................................................10 Market networks ..........................................................................................................12 Changes in supply and demands................................................................................13 Summary .....................................................................................................................15 If you want to learn more.............................................................................................16 Annex 1: Example of national supply (Food Balance Sheet)......................................18 Annex 2: Illustration of Supply and Demand Change .................................................19 Annex 3: Elasticity of Supply and Demand .................................................................21

Learners' Notes

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Course ? Markets Assessment and Analysis Lesson 1 ? Markets and Food Security

Learning objectives

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

? understand basic market concepts and definitions relevant to food security analysis; and

? understand the basic principles of how markets function and how they are important for food security analysis.

Learners' Notes

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Course ? Markets Assessment and Analysis Lesson 1 ? Markets and Food Security

Introduction

Markets are a part of everyone's lives.

Even in rural areas most people, and especially the poor, rely on markets to provide food, essential goods and services. Markets also provide access to paid work and mechanisms for selling produce.

Most livelihoods in low-income countries are thus closely linked to markets.

Learners' Notes

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