Managing Food Price Inflation in South Asia

Managing Food Price Inflation in South Asia tackles the immense policy challenges that arose from the global commodity price surge of 2006-08 and the subsequent financial crisis of 2008-10. These events delivered a severe terms-of-trade shock to South Asian nations, worsening macroeconomic balances, fueling rapid inflation, and hurting growth. The global financial crisis compounded these problems by reducing economic opportunities and government revenues. In response, governments implemented a range of short-term measures to stabilize domestic food prices, though some policies like export bans are not in the long-term interest of the region. The book argues that safety nets must be aligned with long-term poverty reduction strategies and fiscal sustainability. Policy attention, it contends, must shift toward boosting farm productivity, improving rural infrastructure, and reducing the vulnerability of the poor. Drawing on international and South Asian experiences, this volume, which emerged from a conference of international experts, serves as a valuable reference for policymakers, academics, and the donor community.