Why is there world hunger or why is energy so expensive?  How are natural resources distributed and how are wildlife populations managed?  How does ethanol, or additional alternative uses for commodities, affect agriculture and food prices?  Economics is the study of how people coordinate their wants and desires, given scarce resources and the decision-making mechanisms, social customs, and political realities of their societies. Decisions made by consumers, farmers, agricultural businesses, investors and the government interact to determine the allocation of scarce resources. The basics of supply, demand, price determination, world trade, public policy, and the economics of food safety will all be covered in this course.  The economics of day-to-day living, saving and investing for your future, and the use of the stock market will also be included in this course.  These concepts will be taught using hands-on learning activities, market simulations, and interactive group scenarios.