Includes bibliographical references and index.

The food industry -- Introduction to agricultural economics -- Introduction to market price determination -- The firm as a production unit -- Costs and optimal output levels -- Supply, market adjustments, and input demand -- Imperfect competition and government regulation -- The theory of consumer behavior -- The concept of elasticity -- Money and financial intermediaries -- The circular flow of income -- Monetary policy -- Fiscal policy -- International trade -- Agricultural policy -- Food marketing : from stable to table -- Futures markets -- Financial markets -- Investment analysis -- Farm service sector -- The economics of market failure -- The Malthusian dilemma -- Economic development and food.