Economics and Statistics

SPECIAL REPORT
Food Prices and Inflation in Developing Asia:
Is Poverty Reduction Coming to an End?
[ PDF: 2,767kb | 47 pages ]

Food prices have increased sharply since mid-2007 and accelerated alarmingly in early 2008. Rice and wheat prices have spiked at levels not seen in over three decades. This threatens to exacerbate poverty in developing Asia by reducing the real incomes of the already poor, while pushing many others below the poverty line. The report proposes appropriate policy responses to the challenge of food price inflation in order to avoid the reversal of the gains in poverty reduction in the region. This Special Report was prepared by a team from the Economics and Research Department (ERD) and represents ERD staff views.