Study questions for first FOOD exam



Please answer the questions in order. Name:

Explain each of the concepts related to orthodox economics. Then relate to our course, e.g., provide an illustration, an implication, support for the orthodox approach, or a challenge to the orthodox approach. (6 pts. each)

1. Abstraction

2. Discounting

3. Anthropocentrism

4. Harmony of interests

5. Institutions

6. Oligopsony

7. Externalities

8. Entrepreneurship

9. WTO

10. GDP

11. Subsidies

12. Vertical integration

13. Precautionary principle

14. What fact, statistic, idea, or trivia did you learn in this course do you think you are most likely to never forget? (2)

15. What was the mandate of the USDA, and why did it become problematic? (5)

16. Explain the various issues surrounding marketing food to children. (15)

Honor code:

Have a great summer!

Seniors: All the best!!

And thanks for a wonderful class.

16. Several students will be taking a make-up for this exam. Please do not breach the honor code by sharing what is on the exam.

COMING UP

Study questions for the final exam will be available at my office today by 5:00.

In Monday’s class we will go over answers to the questions.

Papers are due Wednesday at the beginning of class.

Order of priorities for Wednesday and Friday:

Course evaluation on Wednesday: Please come and participate!

Complete the review for the final exam.

You provide one-to-two minute summaries of your papers.

I am going to try hard to return your papers on Friday.

Finals for seniors: I will put a final exam with your name on it outside my office door by Tuesday at noon. You may take it any time between 8 AM and 5 PM on Monday through Friday. Honor code caution: All students will be get an identical exam.

Final for non-seniors: Wednesday, May 7 at 8:30 AM

PLEASE DON’T ASK FOR FINAL EXAM GRADES OR SEMESTER GRADES PRIOR TO GETTING YOUR GRADES IN THE MAIL. IF YOU STILL HAVE A CUROSITY AFTER YOU RECEIVE GRADES, YOU ARE WELCOME TO BE IN TOUCH.

Study questions for first FOOD exam (Wednesday, 2/12)

1. “The Changing American Diet” handout: What have been the improvements in our diet? How have we done worse?

Rozin:

2. Explain three ways in which our food choices are biologically/genetically based.

3. What point does he make with Sylvia’s choice? Provide several illustrations.

4. Distinguish between indirect and direct social influences in food selection. Elaborate.

5. “To a large extent, we Americans have decontextualized food.” What does that mean? What are the consequences? What is the economic term for “decontextualizing”?

6. Excerpt from Agricultural Economics: How are consumer tastes and preferences established according to mainstream economic theory? Is this presentation essentially the same, or essentially different from Rozin? Explain.

7. Some (OK: I!) question the usefulness of applying neoclassical consumer theory to food consumption. What two assumptions in particular are problematic? Explain. What is the relevance? Now defend the orthodox approach.

Food Politics:

8. In the introduction there is a specific measure of the overabundance of the US food supply. What is it? Based on your class notes, what are the four consequences of this overabundance?

9. Discuss the change from “eat more” to “eat less.” (Include the what, when, why, and who.)

10. What was the mandate of the USDA, and why did it become problematic?

11. Who developed the food pyramid? When? What were the bases for the early controversy over the food pyramid, and how were they resolved?

12. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the food pyramid as a food guide?

13. Who issued the “Dietary Guidelines 2000”? As a nutrition guide, how are they an improvement over the food pyramid? In what ways were the food industry desires met?

14. What is Nestle’s ultimate concern over the Guidelines? (See page 91.) Compare and contrast the Guidelines with the CSPI (Nutrition Action handout) food recommendations, and relate them to Nestle’s concern.

15. What all does Nestle include in the “food industry”? (See the introduction.) How big is it?

16. Develop and explain your position: Should the government develop dietary guidelines? Should it promote them? If so, what types of promotions?

17. Develop and explain your position: Given that the government does develop dietary guidelines, should the food industry play a role in that process? If so, what role? If not, why doesn’t the government have a responsibility to business?

18. Chapter 4 – How does the food industry go about influencing government? List and explain/illustrate.

19. Chapter 5 – How are nutrition professionals co-opted by the food industry? List and explain/illustrate. Do they see themselves as co-opted? What evidence does she provide that they are? How does she recommend that professionals address the problem?

20. Chapter 6: Summarize in a paragraph or so each of the three examples of “softball” tactics to influence public policy. In each case, what public policy was at stake?

21. Chapter 7: For each episode of legal suits against food industry critics, what was the specific case about? Who won? How were food industry interests advanced?

22. What does it mean to “price-fix”? Who has been convicted of fixing what prices? For what other illegal activities have food companies been convicted in recent years? What conclusion does she draw (if any) about the prevalence of criminal activity in the food industry? What do you make of that conclusion?

Addition to #14: How do the eating guidelines on the back of this sheet compare with the Dietary Guidelines? Both nutritionally and otherwise, what do you think that Nestle would make of the information provided in the article? That is, where would she agree, disagree, or raise doubts?

23. Chapter 8: Why does the food industry market to children? On what bases are they criticized for this practice? In what ways do they defend themselves? What marketing methods do they use to target children outside of school? Which do you think most influenced you? Which do you think most influenced your friends? Which do you think had the weakest influence?

24. How extensive are corporate food services operations in schools? Where does this tend to occur? Do their foods meet federal nutrition standards? Why are these services brought into schools? What is the usual argument against bringing them in? Would you want the school of your children to provide food in this way? Why or why not?

25. Chapter 9: How extensive is soft drink consumption in the US? How is this bad news? How is this good news?

26. What marketing methods do food companies use to target children in the schools? Which do you think most influenced you? Which do you think most influenced your friends? Which do you think had the weakest influence?

27. How much money is spent marketing to children? Do these efforts influence kids’ preferences? If so, to what extent?

28. What is meant by “pouring rights”? How extensive is this practice? How is this arrangement good for business? How is it good for schools? What are the downsides? Would you want the school of your children to participate? Who should get to decide whether or not a school participates? Teachers? Principals? Local school boards? State governments? The federal government?

29. Conclusion: On pages 358-9 is a list of claims made by the food industry. Are there any that in some sense Nestle agrees with? If so, pick two and contrast the food industry intent with her interpretation. Are there any that Nestle strongly disagrees with? If so, pick two and again contrast their perspectives.

30. “In the same way that cigarette companies’ promotion of smoking raises issues, so does the food industry’s promotion of minimally nutritious products and overeating in general.” What are the parallels that she draws? Do you agree with her statement or not? Briefly explain.

Perhaps one more question.

Food study questions for second exam, Monday March 24

Unless requested to do otherwise, answer the question from the perspective of your authors.

Fast Food Nation

1. Describe the roles that Ray Kroc played at McDonald’s. (Use your index to help you pull together information from throughout the book.)

2. According to Schlosser, what types of government spending have benefited the fast food industry?

3. What food industry activities have become heavily consolidated in the last 20 years?

4. Chapter 1: What were the dissatisfactions of the McDonald’s brothers and what were their innovations?

5. Chapter 2: How do marketers go about reaching children? (Discussion begins on page 44.)

6. “American’s fast food culture has become indistinguishable from the popular culture of its children” (48). What does Schlosser mean? How does he make his case? Are you convinced?

7. Chapter 3: Describe the demographics of the workers and the work experience of the fast food industry. For whom is it a bad experience? Explain.

8. Chapter 4: What are the advantages and drawbacks to being a franchisee?

9. Chapter 5: Who has market power in the potato industry? What is the basis for that power? Who doesn’t have market power? Why not?

10. Describe the food additives industry, including where they are located, how they go about their work, and why this industry exits.

11. Chapter 6: Briefly recount the 20th century history of the structure of the meatpacking industry. Explain how they go about controlling prices today. According to them, why are beef prices so low, and why must they control supply?

12. List five reasons that the number of ranchers is in decline.

13. Describe the work of “chicken growers” and their arrangements with the chicken processors.

14. Chapter 7: Describe the elements of the IBP revolution and its consequences.

15. Chapter 8: What are the dangers and the sources of the dangers of working in a meatpacking plant?

16. Chapter 9: What in the meat causes illnesses? What are the causes of meat contamination?

17. What are, and are not, current measures of government oversight to obtain safe meat?

18. “Burgers on the Brain”: Explain the evidence concerning leptin that “eating fast food is self-reinforcing.” Summarize any other of the evidence presented in the article.

19. Based on the American Psychiatric Association definition of addiction, in your view does eating a calorie dense diet constitute an addiction? Explain.

20. “You Want Fries With That?”: In what sense might “the fattening of America” have been a necessity? Recount how David Wallerstein came to make his innovation.

21. McDonald’s articles: What’s behind the recent performance of McDonald’s?

22. “Diet and Disease”: Name one improvement to diet that will reduce the risk of each of the following: heart disease, stroke, colon and rectal cancer, osteoporosis.

23. “Diet and Health”: List three positive trends associated with diet/food, and indicate what the change in diet/food was. Repeat for negative.

24. Review your notes from Dr. Niemeyer’s lecture.

25. BMI handout: Describe the BMI and its use. (You need not memorize the formula.)

26. Reuter’s article: What is the current estimate of obesity in the US? Name two groups that experience higher than average incidences of overweight or obesity.

27. “Current Estimates …”: What are the types of “economic costs” of obesity that are estimated? According to the authors, in what ways have they underestimated the costs? How have they overestimated them?

28. Based on class discussion of this piece the questions arose: In the case of each cost, are there also beneficiaries? In the case of each, what happens to GDP? T or F, and briefly defend your answer: Since obesity increases the incomes of many people, it is a good thing for the country.

29. How did the researchers go about estimating the costs of obesity? What was their dollar estimate for the costs in 1995? How were they spread between the direct and indirect costs? Which disease had the highest direct costs?

30. “Why Have Americans …?” How do they come to conclude that Americans’ extra poundage is the consequence of more eating and not less exercise? How do they come to conclude that the increase in obesity is not the consequence of larger portion sizes or eating out at fast food references? What was Emily’s critique of their method on this point?

31. Summarize their explanation of the increase in obesity. What evidence do they offer in support of their theory? Are we better off for our increased consumption of food? Explain.

Anticipated Schedule:

March

17 Toxic …

19 Meat Factories (128), “Lone Star …” handout

21 Antibiotics (167)

24 Exam

26 Invisible (154), Way the West (158)

28 Video: There’s A Cow at My Table

32. “Toxic Fertility”: What does it mean for nitrogen to be “fixed”? What agricultural practices fix nitrogen? Explain the resultant concerns. What are CAFOs?

33. “Meat Factories” and “Lone Star” handout: Relate the main elements of the hog industry. What animals live in CAFOs?

34. What is the “precautionary principle”? What is the alternative?

35. How do economists define “efficiency”? How do economists define “externality”? How are the two related?

36. “Antibiotics in Jeopardy”: How do bacteria come to be resistant to antibiotics? Explain the food connection.

Study questions for third FOOD exam: Base your answers on our common resources.

“Genetically engineered foods,” Who’s minding the pharm?” “Risking corn, risking culture,” “Texas company puts industry in tempest,” and the in-class (largely in French) video “The genetic takeover: mutant food”:

What does it mean to genetically engineer plants?

For what purposes are plants being genetically modified?

Who all stands to benefit, and how? What benefits are touted?

Who are the critics?

Explain the concerns of the critics. What empirical evidence do they have to support their criticisms?

What are the recommendations for government regulation?

How would the precautionary principle apply in this case?

“Invisible oppression”: List the groups who are oppressed. How are they oppressed?

“The way the west was weaned”: Briefly explain each of the ways that cows are harmed.

“Where have all the farmers gone?” “The global banquet,” “Risking corn, risking culture,” handouts on farm bill, and perhaps elsewhere:

When did US farms begin to grow so large? What prompted this trend? What are the consequences?

We have contrasted big farms with small farms in a variety of ways. Explain our various distinctions.

Distinguish vertical integration from horizontal integration, and provide an example of each from agriculture.

What’s happening to small farmers in developing countries? Why? How does this relate to US farm policy and US promoted trade policies?

Describe what is depicted in the graph on pages 74-5. What is behind this trend?

“Risking corn, risking culture”: Which cultures are at risk? Why/how? Why is this a concern?

“Aquaculture’s troubled harvest”:

Describe the industry’s growth and structure.

Describe the actual “farming” operations, e.g., the facilities, the work, the feed, etc.

What are the concerns of the critics? What evidence supports their concerns?

How might these concerns be addressed?

What are the upsides of aquaculture?

“When the world’s well run dry”:

Summarize the problem and explain the factors that contribute to it.

In what ways can this problem be addressed?

Describe the Ogallala aquifer and the extent of the problem with regards to it.

“Rationale for government intervention”:

Explain the elements of the “farm problem.”

Explain the forms of government intervention intended to directly help farmers.

What are the “resource issues,” and how does government address them?

What does “free trade” mean? Why is it desirable?

Also, review “Cow at my table” and “The global banquet.”

Concerning the latter, what was “the other side” as I summarized in class?

Second “Food” Exam Name:

2003

Please answer the questions in order, and answer from the perspective of our authors.

1. The IBP revolution and its impacts were far-reaching and part of the Schlosser’s discussion in different contexts and different chapters.

a. What does “IBP” stand for?

b. What was the IBP revolution? Describe its various impacts. (45 points)

Answer either question #2 or #3 (25 points).

2. Describe the demographics of the workers and the work experience within the fast food industry. For whom is it a bad experience? Explain.

3. “Why Have Americans Become Obese?”

a. How do the researchers come to conclude that Americans’ extra poundage is the consequence of more eating and not less exercise?

b. How do they come to conclude that the increase in obesity is not the consequence of larger portion sizes or eating out at fast food references?

c. Summarize their explanation for the increase in obesity.

d. Provide one example of the evidence that they offer in support of their theory.

The short answer responses are worth 2 points each. Complete sentences are not required.

Identify and briefly relate to our study:

4. Encroachment

5. Licensing agreement

6. Leptin

7. Vertical integration

8. Name one type of government spending that benefited the food industry.

9. According to the researchers who estimated the economic costs of obesity, what are two ways in which they underestimated the costs?

10. What are two agricultural practices that significantly contribute to the excess of fixed nitrogen?

11. When/why did the food additives industry arise?

12. According to meat packers, why do they control the supply of cows coming into their plants?

13. According to Schlosser, is the level of concentration in meatpacking more, less, or essentially the same as during the years of the Beef Trust?

14. Does the federal government currently test meat for E-coli? (Pick the best answer.)

Yes.

No, industry is required to test and report their findings to the government.

Testing is not currently being done.

15. According to Dr. Niemeyer, mercury has a long half-life in our bodies.

True.

False, mercury has a short half-life.

False, we do not know the half-life of mercury.

16. What does CAFO stand for?

Honor code:

Third FOOD exam Name:

Complete sentences are not required; lists are just fine.

1. a. From the perspective of the proponents, what are the potential benefits of genetically engineered plants?

b. From the perspective of the critics, briefly explain five concerns around the genetically engineered plants. (25)

2. a. When did farms begin to grow large in the United States?

b. What prompted this trend?

c. What other factors have contributed to and sustained the trend toward large farms? (Answer space continues on next page; 25)

3. Based on “When the world’s well run dry,” explain three factors that have contributed to the problem. (15)

4. Based on “Rationale for government intervention,” what are the four elements of the “farm problem”? Explain each. (25)

5. Short answer questions total to 10 points.

In the aquaculture article, what animal was the focus?

How does “mastitis” relate to our study?

What size tax is proposed by the proponents of the “small tax”?

Has the United States government yet established a definition for “organic” foods?

Honor code:

Study guide for final FOOD exam

At lest 80 percent of your exam will come from this sheet.

Questions may be edited as we go along in class.

Define/explain each of the concepts from economics, and indicate how it relates to our course.

|Abstraction |Institutions |Entrepreneurship |

| |Property rights |Technology |

|Rational choice |Subsidies | |

|Revealed preferences |Taxes |Free trade |

|More is preferred to less |Minimum wage |Imports and exports |

|Discounting |Regulation |Tariffs |

|Consumer sovereignty | |Quota |

|Utility maximization |Market (or industry) structure |WTO |

| |Competition | |

|Anthropocentrism |Oligopoly | |

|Environmental ethic |Oligopsony | |

|Efficiency |Market power | |

| |Producer sovereignty | |

|Invisible hand |Horizontal integration | |

|Harmony of interests |Vertical integration | |

|Mutual gains from voluntary exchange |Multinationals | |

|Market domain |Economies of scale | |

|Economic growth | | |

|GDP |Externalities (or spillovers) | |

|Market failure |Precautionary principal | |

| |Tragedy of the commons | |

What did you learn in this course that you think you are most likely to never forget? It can be a fact, statistic, idea, or piece of trivia. I just want to know what really impressed you.

The remaining 20 percent of the exam will come from the semester as a whole. I suggest that you review your exams and study guides.

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Finals for seniors: I will put a final exam with your name on it outside my office door by Tuesday at noon. You may take it any time between 8 AM and 5 PM on Monday through Friday. Honor code caution: All students will be get an identical final exam.

Final for non-seniors: Wednesday, May 7 at 8:30 AM

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ALL: PLEASE DON’T ASK FOR FINAL EXAM GRADES OR SEMESTER GRADES PRIOR TO GETTING YOUR GRADES IN THE MAIL. IF YOU STILL HAVE A CUROSITY AFTER YOU RECEIVE GRADES, YOU ARE WELCOME TO BE IN TOUCH.

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