Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/129450 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
WIDER Working Paper No. 2015/117
Publisher: 
The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Helsinki
Abstract: 
This paper identifies eight political economy factors that influenced governments' policy choices during the most recent global food price crisis. To explain the variety of responses and the policy failures, a framework is proposed that locates policies along the twin dimensions of unitary vs. fragmented decision-making processes and social welfare maximizing vs. self-interested policy goals. Policies are favoured that maintain government legitimacy and produce private benefits for the best-connected stakeholders. Policy interventions were frequently ad hoc and delayed because of lack of market information, conflicts among fragmented government agencies in all governments, and extended deliberations among competing stakeholder groups.
Subjects: 
political economy
food prices
public choice
rent-seeking
JEL: 
D72
D73
Q18
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
ISBN: 
978-92-9256-006-5
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
551.66 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.