There has been a rapid increase in food prices over the last couple of years, seen most dramatically in the recent 30% one-day rise in the price of rice worldwide. This is putting tremendous pressure on the poor and is leading to instability in countries around the world. There have been violent demonstrations–and equally violent government responses–to food rioting in Egypt and Haiti in the last couple of weeks. They may be but a harbinger of the economic and political instability to come. Here is a report from the BBC, in which an expert argues that IMF policies have contributed to the rise in food prices:
“Poor countries need to invest heavily in agriculture to feed their people. There’s been a dearth of investment in agriculture in poor countries, mainly because of IMF and World Bank policies…”
Clouds, Clocks, and Sitting at Tables 