Why Food Security is Determined by Elites: Price Spikes and Vietnam’s Rice Policy

Presented by Dr. Murray Fulton, Professor, Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and Director, Centre for the Study of Co-operatives Sharp food price rises, such as the one in rice in 2007, are a key element of food security – they are a source of social unrest and can cause malnutrition, hunger and death. These price spikes are often made worse by export restrictions imposed by exporting countries. In Vietnam, a political elite appears to have used export restrictions as a way of maintaining power and capturing significant economic benefits. Given this political element, food security will remain an elusive goal, since the changes required to alter the political economy of rice policy in countries like Vietnam occur only if other much more fundamental economic and political changes take place. More information: http://www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca/News_Events/calendar_details.php?id=534

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