FAMINEFAMINE

Theories of FamineTheories of Famine FAD: Food Availability DeclineFAD: Food Availability Decline Entitlement TheoryEntitlement Theory Dependency TheoryDependency Theory AnalysisAnalysis Food securityFood security

Food SecurityFood Security

The ability of a country to produce, store The ability of a country to produce, store or import sufficient food.or import sufficient food.

Maximum Autonomy over access free from Maximum Autonomy over access free from international price fluctuations or political international price fluctuations or political pressurepressure

Reliability of food supplyReliability of food supply Production in accordance with Production in accordance with

environmental sustainabilityenvironmental sustainability Equity in the sense of a guaranteed Equity in the sense of a guaranteed

minimum for allminimum for all

FamineFamine

Is not an event but a processIs not an event but a process Starts from developing food Starts from developing food

insecurityinsecurity Famine is the end of this processFamine is the end of this process

FADFAD

ScarcityScarcity Malthusian PessimismMalthusian Pessimism High DemandHigh Demand Low SupplyLow Supply What causes this?What causes this? A neo-classical perspectiveA neo-classical perspective Focus on production and populationFocus on production and population

Agricultural ProblemsAgricultural Problems

Neo-classical viewsNeo-classical views State interventionState intervention Irrationality of PeasantsIrrationality of Peasants Need to develop both local and Need to develop both local and

export marketsexport markets Market incentives and comparative Market incentives and comparative

advantageadvantage

Poverty and FaminePoverty and Famine

““Starvation is the characteristic of Starvation is the characteristic of some people not having enough food some people not having enough food to eat. It is not the characteristic of to eat. It is not the characteristic of there being not enough to eat. While there being not enough to eat. While the latter can be a cause of the the latter can be a cause of the former, it is but one of the possible former, it is but one of the possible causes”causes”

Entitlement TheoryEntitlement Theory

Acquirement ProblemAcquirement Problem Exchange Entitlement SetExchange Entitlement Set Initial Factor EndowmentInitial Factor Endowment Exchange Entitlement SetExchange Entitlement Set

EntitlementsEntitlements

Differs according to nature of Differs according to nature of economic, political and social economic, political and social structurestructure

Entitlement relationsEntitlement relations A structuralist analysisA structuralist analysis Need for State actionNeed for State action Famine relief and work fareFamine relief and work fare Early Warning SignalsEarly Warning Signals

StrengthsStrengths

Focus of distributionFocus of distribution Reliant on social and political forces Reliant on social and political forces

that underpin the economic systemthat underpin the economic system

WeaknessesWeaknesses

Need to explore the long terms Need to explore the long terms causescauses

Deaths through famine not caused Deaths through famine not caused by lack of food but detrimental by lack of food but detrimental health conditionshealth conditions

DependencyDependency

Protectionism in WestProtectionism in West Decline in Commodity PricesDecline in Commodity Prices Agribusiness Agribusiness Susan George - How the Other Half DSusan George - How the Other Half D

ies - ies - TransnationalTransnational Institute Institute

Urban BiasUrban Bias Commoditisation of FoodCommoditisation of Food

Long Term causesLong Term causes

The impact of imperialismThe impact of imperialism The effects of export commodity The effects of export commodity

productionproduction The role of agribusinessThe role of agribusiness Urban BiasUrban Bias

SummarySummary

Many explanations for famineMany explanations for famine Many causes of famineMany causes of famine Entitlement theory seeks to provide a Entitlement theory seeks to provide a

comprehensive analytical frameworkcomprehensive analytical framework Dependency writers seek to locate Dependency writers seek to locate

famine within the domestic and famine within the domestic and global class structure and marketglobal class structure and market