Food Price Increases in South Asia : National Responses and Regional Dimensions

Food price inflation not only threatens macroeconomic stability but also decreases the welfare levels of most households, especially the poorer ones, for whom food consumption constitutes a relatively large share of total expenditures. This report analyzes the causes and effects of food price inflation in South Asia during the period 2007?08 and beyond; simulates the impact of food price increases on household welfare and the potential of adjustments in consumer and producer behavior for mitigating the negative impact on welfare; and assesses the potential impact of regional trade liberalization on food prices. The appendixes describe the policy reactions of individual governments to the increases in food prices against the background of their respective domestic food policies. The focus is on wheat and rice, which are the main food staples in South Asia and together account for an important part of food expenditures of the poor. By analyzing the household?level impacts of the food crisis and taking stock of the policy responses of national governments, including their regional dimensions, the report allows lessons to be drawn regarding the policies that South Asian governments may want to follow to enable them to react appropriately in case another food crisis unfolds, while at the same time helping to prevent such a crisis from occurring.

Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	World Bank
Language:	English
Published:	World Bank 2010-06-01
Subjects:	AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT, AGRICULTURAL PRICE, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURE, BANK MANAGEMENT, BEEF, BREAD, BUTTER, CENTRAL BANK, CEREAL CROPS, CEREAL IMPORTS, CEREAL PRICE, CEREAL PRICES, CEREALS, COMMODITIES, COMMODITY, COMMODITY PRICES, CONSUMER PRICE, CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, CONSUMER PRICE INDICES, CONSUMER PRICES, CONSUMERS, COPYRIGHT CLEARANCE, COPYRIGHT CLEARANCE CENTER, DAIRY, DATA AVAILABILITY, DEMAND GROWTH, DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, DOMESTIC MARKET, DOMESTIC MARKETS, DOMESTIC PRICE, DOMESTIC PRICES, ECONOMIC COOPERATION, ECONOMIC CRISIS, EDIBLE OILS, ENERGY PRICES, EXCHANGE RATE, EXCHANGE RATES, EXPENDITURE, EXPENDITURES, EXPORTS, FOOD AID, FOOD CONSUMPTION, FOOD CROPS, FOOD DISTRIBUTION, FOOD FOR WORK, FOOD GRAINS, FOOD IMPORTS, FOOD INSECURITY, FOOD POLICIES, FOOD POLICY, FOOD POLICY RESEARCH, FOOD PRICE, FOOD PRICE INFLATION, FOOD PRICES, FOOD PRODUCTION, FOOD SECURITY, FOOD SHORTAGES, FOOD STAPLES, FOOD SUPPLIES, FOOD SUPPLY, FOODGRAINS, FOODS, FREE TRADE, FUTURES, GRAIN RESERVES, GRAINS, GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, GROWTH RATES, HEDGE FUNDS, IFPRI, INCOME, INCOME ELASTICITY OF DEMAND, INCOME GROUPS, INCOME LEVELS, INCOMES, INFLATION RATE, INFLATION RATES, INFLATIONARY PRESSURE, INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INTERNATIONAL MARKET, INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, LIBERALIZATION, LIVING STANDARDS, MACROECONOMIC STABILITY, MAIZE, MARKET CONDITIONS, MARKET FAILURE, MARKET PRICE, MARKET PRICES, MEAT, MONETARY POLICIES, MORTGAGE, MUTUAL FUNDS, NOMINAL INCOME, OUTPUTS, PADDY, PALM OIL, PESTICIDES, POLITICAL ECONOMY, PORK, PRICE CHANGE, PRICE CHANGES, PRICE ELASTICITY, PRICE ELASTICITY OF DEMAND, PRICE ELASTICITY OF SUPPLY, PRICE INCENTIVES, PRICE INCREASE, PRICE INCREASES, PRICE INDEX, PRICE POLICIES, PRICE VARIATION, PRICE VOLATILITY, PRICING POLICIES, PRICING POLICY, PRODUCTIVITY, PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH, PROTECTIONISM, PURCHASING, PURCHASING POWER, REAL GDP, REAL INCOME, REGIONAL TRADE, RESERVE BANK, RETAIL, RETAIL PRICE, RICE, RICE MARKETING, RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE, SAFETY NET, SAFETY NETS, SALES, SAVINGS, SOCIAL PROTECTION, SOYBEAN, SOYBEANS, SPOT PRICES, STATE BANK, STOCK MANAGEMENT, STOCK MARKETS, STOCKS, SUBSTITUTE, SUBSTITUTES, SUGAR, SUPPLY ELASTICITY, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, TARIFF BARRIERS, TAX, TAX CREDIT, TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, TRADE BARRIERS, TRADE LIBERALIZATION, TRADE NEGOTIATIONS, TRADE POLICIES, TRADE POLICY, TRANSACTION COSTS, UNDERLYING PROBLEMS, WAGE RATES, WAGES, WFP, WHEAT, WHEAT FLOUR, WHOLESALE PRICES, WORLD FOOD PROGRAM, WORLD MARKET, WORLD MARKETS, WORLD TRADE, WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION, WTO,
Online Access:	http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000333037_20100806030709 https://hdl.handle.net/10986/2885
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