Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa : Poverty Impact and Policy Responses

The increase in food prices represents a major crisis for the world's poor. This paper aims to review the evidence on the potential impact of higher food prices on poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, and examines the extent to which policy response...

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Main Authors: Wodon, Quentin, Zaman, Hassan
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2012
Subjects:
WFP
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/10/9899936/rising-food-prices-sub-saharan-africa-poverty-impact-policy-responses
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/6938
id okr-10986-6938
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
topic ACUTE MALNUTRITION
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
AGRICULTURAL INPUTS
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
AGRICULTURAL WAGE
AGRICULTURAL WAGES
AGRICULTURE
ANTI-POVERTY
ANTI-POVERTY INTERVENTIONS
AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME
BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE
BENEFICIARIES
BENEFICIARY
BENEFIT LEVELS
BREAD
BULLETIN
CALORIC INTAKE
CALORIE INTAKE
CASH TRANSFERS
CENTER FOR POPULATION
CEREALS
CHANGES IN POVERTY
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
CHILD NUTRITION
CHRONIC POVERTY
CITIZENS
CIVIL CONFLICT
CONFLICT
CONSUMER PRICES
CONSUMER SUBSIDIES
CONSUMER SUBSIDY
CONSUMPTION AGGREGATE
COPING STRATEGIES
CREDIT MARKETS
CREDIT SCHEME
CREDIT SCHEMES
CULTURAL CHANGE
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DIET
DIRECT TRANSFERS
DOMESTIC PRICES
DROUGHT
EARLY CHILDHOOD
ECONOMIC CRISES
ECONOMIC CRISIS
ECONOMIC GROWTH
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
EGGS
EMERGENCY FOOD
FAMILY WELFARE
FARM PRODUCTIVITY
FARMERS
FEEDING PROGRAMS
FINANCIAL CRISIS
FLOUR
FOOD AID
FOOD AID PROGRAMS
FOOD CONSUMPTION
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
FOOD EXPENDITURE
FOOD EXPENDITURES
FOOD FOR WORK
FOOD IMPORTS
FOOD INSECURITY
FOOD ITEMS
FOOD MARKETS
FOOD NEEDS
FOOD POLICY
FOOD POLICY RESEARCH
FOOD PRICE
FOOD PRICE INFLATION
FOOD PRICE POLICIES
FOOD PRICE STABILIZATION
FOOD PRICES
FOOD PRICING
FOOD PRODUCTION
FOOD RATION
FOOD SECURITY
FOOD SHORTAGES
FOOD STAPLES
FOOD STOCKS
FOOD SUBSIDIES
FOODGRAINS
FUTURE EARNINGS
HEALTH SERVICES
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
HOUSEHOLD LEVEL
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HOUSEHOLD VULNERABILITY
HOUSEHOLD WELFARE
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
IFPRI
IMPACT OF SHOCKS
IMPACT ON POVERTY
IMPACT ON POVERTY REDUCTION
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME DYNAMICS
INCOME GROWTH
INEQUALITY
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
IRRIGATION
LABOR MARKETS
LABOR SUPPLY
LANDHOLDINGS
LEVEL OF POVERTY
LIVING COSTS
LOCAL FARMERS
LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION
LOW WAGES
LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
MAIZE
MALNUTRITION
MARKET PRICES
MEANS TESTING
MEAT
MILK
NATIONAL LEVEL
NEW POOR
NUTRITIONAL NEEDS
NUTRITIONAL PROGRAMS
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION
POLICY DECISIONS
POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER
POLICY RESPONSE
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POOR
POOR AREAS
POOR BENEFIT
POOR CHILDREN
POOR CONSUMERS
POOR COUNTRIES
POOR DISTRICTS
POOR HOUSEHOLDS
POOR INDIVIDUALS
POOR PEOPLE
POOR PRODUCERS
POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT
POPULATION GROUPS
POPULATION SUBGROUPS
POST-CONFLICT COUNTRIES
POTATOES
POVERTY ANALYSIS
POVERTY ASSESSMENTS
POVERTY DYNAMICS
POVERTY ESTIMATES
POVERTY IMPACT
POVERTY INDICATORS
POVERTY LEVELS
POVERTY LINE
POVERTY LINES
POVERTY MAP
POVERTY MAPPING
POVERTY MAPS
POVERTY MEASURES
POVERTY RATE
POVERTY REDUCTION
POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGIES
POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY
PRICE ELASTICITY
PRICE STABILIZATION
PRODUCTION RATIO
PRODUCTIVE ASSETS
PROGRESS
PROTEIN
PUBLIC RESOURCES
PUBLIC SAFETY NET
PUBLIC WORKS
PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS
RATIONS
REFUGEES
RESERVATION WAGE
RESPECT
RETURNEES
RICE
RURAL
RURAL AREAS
RURAL DWELLERS
RURAL HOUSEHOLD
RURAL HOUSEHOLDS
RURAL LEVEL
RURAL POOR
RURAL WELFARE
SAFETY NET
SAFETY NET PROGRAMS
SAFETY NETS
SAVINGS
SCHOOL FEEDING
SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMS
SCHOOLING
SECONDARY EDUCATION
SHOCK
SMALL LANDHOLDINGS
SOCIAL IMPACT
SOCIAL PROTECTION
SOCIAL SAFETY NET
SOCIAL UNREST
SOUTH ASIAN
STAPLE FOODS
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
SUBSIDIZING
SUGAR
TARGETING
TERTIARY EDUCATION
TRANSFER PROGRAMS
TRANSFERS IN CASH
TUBERS
UNEMPLOYMENT
UNSKILLED WORKERS
URBAN AREAS
URBAN DWELLERS
URBAN POPULATION
URBAN POVERTY
VITAMINS
VULNERABLE GROUPS
VULNERABLE MEMBERS
WAGE RATE
WAGE RATES
WFP
WHEAT
WORKFARE
WORKS PROGRAM
WORKS PROJECTS
WORLD FOOD PROGRAM
WORLD POPULATION
spellingShingle ACUTE MALNUTRITION
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
AGRICULTURAL INPUTS
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
AGRICULTURAL WAGE
AGRICULTURAL WAGES
AGRICULTURE
ANTI-POVERTY
ANTI-POVERTY INTERVENTIONS
AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME
BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE
BENEFICIARIES
BENEFICIARY
BENEFIT LEVELS
BREAD
BULLETIN
CALORIC INTAKE
CALORIE INTAKE
CASH TRANSFERS
CENTER FOR POPULATION
CEREALS
CHANGES IN POVERTY
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
CHILD NUTRITION
CHRONIC POVERTY
CITIZENS
CIVIL CONFLICT
CONFLICT
CONSUMER PRICES
CONSUMER SUBSIDIES
CONSUMER SUBSIDY
CONSUMPTION AGGREGATE
COPING STRATEGIES
CREDIT MARKETS
CREDIT SCHEME
CREDIT SCHEMES
CULTURAL CHANGE
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DIET
DIRECT TRANSFERS
DOMESTIC PRICES
DROUGHT
EARLY CHILDHOOD
ECONOMIC CRISES
ECONOMIC CRISIS
ECONOMIC GROWTH
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
EGGS
EMERGENCY FOOD
FAMILY WELFARE
FARM PRODUCTIVITY
FARMERS
FEEDING PROGRAMS
FINANCIAL CRISIS
FLOUR
FOOD AID
FOOD AID PROGRAMS
FOOD CONSUMPTION
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
FOOD EXPENDITURE
FOOD EXPENDITURES
FOOD FOR WORK
FOOD IMPORTS
FOOD INSECURITY
FOOD ITEMS
FOOD MARKETS
FOOD NEEDS
FOOD POLICY
FOOD POLICY RESEARCH
FOOD PRICE
FOOD PRICE INFLATION
FOOD PRICE POLICIES
FOOD PRICE STABILIZATION
FOOD PRICES
FOOD PRICING
FOOD PRODUCTION
FOOD RATION
FOOD SECURITY
FOOD SHORTAGES
FOOD STAPLES
FOOD STOCKS
FOOD SUBSIDIES
FOODGRAINS
FUTURE EARNINGS
HEALTH SERVICES
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
HOUSEHOLD LEVEL
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HOUSEHOLD VULNERABILITY
HOUSEHOLD WELFARE
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
IFPRI
IMPACT OF SHOCKS
IMPACT ON POVERTY
IMPACT ON POVERTY REDUCTION
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME DYNAMICS
INCOME GROWTH
INEQUALITY
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
IRRIGATION
LABOR MARKETS
LABOR SUPPLY
LANDHOLDINGS
LEVEL OF POVERTY
LIVING COSTS
LOCAL FARMERS
LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION
LOW WAGES
LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
MAIZE
MALNUTRITION
MARKET PRICES
MEANS TESTING
MEAT
MILK
NATIONAL LEVEL
NEW POOR
NUTRITIONAL NEEDS
NUTRITIONAL PROGRAMS
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION
POLICY DECISIONS
POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER
POLICY RESPONSE
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POOR
POOR AREAS
POOR BENEFIT
POOR CHILDREN
POOR CONSUMERS
POOR COUNTRIES
POOR DISTRICTS
POOR HOUSEHOLDS
POOR INDIVIDUALS
POOR PEOPLE
POOR PRODUCERS
POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT
POPULATION GROUPS
POPULATION SUBGROUPS
POST-CONFLICT COUNTRIES
POTATOES
POVERTY ANALYSIS
POVERTY ASSESSMENTS
POVERTY DYNAMICS
POVERTY ESTIMATES
POVERTY IMPACT
POVERTY INDICATORS
POVERTY LEVELS
POVERTY LINE
POVERTY LINES
POVERTY MAP
POVERTY MAPPING
POVERTY MAPS
POVERTY MEASURES
POVERTY RATE
POVERTY REDUCTION
POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGIES
POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY
PRICE ELASTICITY
PRICE STABILIZATION
PRODUCTION RATIO
PRODUCTIVE ASSETS
PROGRESS
PROTEIN
PUBLIC RESOURCES
PUBLIC SAFETY NET
PUBLIC WORKS
PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS
RATIONS
REFUGEES
RESERVATION WAGE
RESPECT
RETURNEES
RICE
RURAL
RURAL AREAS
RURAL DWELLERS
RURAL HOUSEHOLD
RURAL HOUSEHOLDS
RURAL LEVEL
RURAL POOR
RURAL WELFARE
SAFETY NET
SAFETY NET PROGRAMS
SAFETY NETS
SAVINGS
SCHOOL FEEDING
SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMS
SCHOOLING
SECONDARY EDUCATION
SHOCK
SMALL LANDHOLDINGS
SOCIAL IMPACT
SOCIAL PROTECTION
SOCIAL SAFETY NET
SOCIAL UNREST
SOUTH ASIAN
STAPLE FOODS
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
SUBSIDIZING
SUGAR
TARGETING
TERTIARY EDUCATION
TRANSFER PROGRAMS
TRANSFERS IN CASH
TUBERS
UNEMPLOYMENT
UNSKILLED WORKERS
URBAN AREAS
URBAN DWELLERS
URBAN POPULATION
URBAN POVERTY
VITAMINS
VULNERABLE GROUPS
VULNERABLE MEMBERS
WAGE RATE
WAGE RATES
WFP
WHEAT
WORKFARE
WORKS PROGRAM
WORKS PROJECTS
WORLD FOOD PROGRAM
WORLD POPULATION
Wodon, Quentin
Zaman, Hassan
Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa : Poverty Impact and Policy Responses
relation Policy Research Working Paper; No. 4738
description The increase in food prices represents a major crisis for the world's poor. This paper aims to review the evidence on the potential impact of higher food prices on poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, and examines the extent to which policy responses will benefit the poor. The paper shows that rising food prices are likely to lead to higher poverty in sub-Saharan Africa as the negative impact on net poor consumers outweighs the benefits to poor producers. A recent survey shows that the most common policy response in sub-Saharan African countries is reducing taxes on food while outside the region price controls or targeted consumer subsidies are the most popular measure. Sub-Saharan African countries also have a higher prevalence of food-based safety net programs which are being scaled up to respond to rising prices. The review suggests that the benefits from reducing import tariffs on staples may accrue largely to the non-poor. Social protection programs show more promise, but geographic targeting is likely to be crucial in ensuring that benefits reach the neediest. The paper also argues that anti-poverty interventions ought to retain their focus on rural areas where poverty remains highest even after taking into account the adverse impact on the urban poor due to the rise in food prices.
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Wodon, Quentin
Zaman, Hassan
author_facet Wodon, Quentin
Zaman, Hassan
author_sort Wodon, Quentin
title Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa : Poverty Impact and Policy Responses
title_short Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa : Poverty Impact and Policy Responses
title_full Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa : Poverty Impact and Policy Responses
title_fullStr Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa : Poverty Impact and Policy Responses
title_full_unstemmed Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa : Poverty Impact and Policy Responses
title_sort rising food prices in sub-saharan africa : poverty impact and policy responses
publisher World Bank, Washington, DC
publishDate 2012
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/10/9899936/rising-food-prices-sub-saharan-africa-poverty-impact-policy-responses
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/6938
_version_ 1764401368261459968
spelling okr-10986-69382021-04-23T14:02:32Z Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa : Poverty Impact and Policy Responses Wodon, Quentin Zaman, Hassan ACUTE MALNUTRITION ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AGRICULTURAL INPUTS AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AGRICULTURAL WAGE AGRICULTURAL WAGES AGRICULTURE ANTI-POVERTY ANTI-POVERTY INTERVENTIONS AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE BENEFICIARIES BENEFICIARY BENEFIT LEVELS BREAD BULLETIN CALORIC INTAKE CALORIE INTAKE CASH TRANSFERS CENTER FOR POPULATION CEREALS CHANGES IN POVERTY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CHILD NUTRITION CHRONIC POVERTY CITIZENS CIVIL CONFLICT CONFLICT CONSUMER PRICES CONSUMER SUBSIDIES CONSUMER SUBSIDY CONSUMPTION AGGREGATE COPING STRATEGIES CREDIT MARKETS CREDIT SCHEME CREDIT SCHEMES CULTURAL CHANGE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DEVELOPMENT POLICY DIET DIRECT TRANSFERS DOMESTIC PRICES DROUGHT EARLY CHILDHOOD ECONOMIC CRISES ECONOMIC CRISIS ECONOMIC GROWTH EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT EGGS EMERGENCY FOOD FAMILY WELFARE FARM PRODUCTIVITY FARMERS FEEDING PROGRAMS FINANCIAL CRISIS FLOUR FOOD AID FOOD AID PROGRAMS FOOD CONSUMPTION FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOOD EXPENDITURE FOOD EXPENDITURES FOOD FOR WORK FOOD IMPORTS FOOD INSECURITY FOOD ITEMS FOOD MARKETS FOOD NEEDS FOOD POLICY FOOD POLICY RESEARCH FOOD PRICE FOOD PRICE INFLATION FOOD PRICE POLICIES FOOD PRICE STABILIZATION FOOD PRICES FOOD PRICING FOOD PRODUCTION FOOD RATION FOOD SECURITY FOOD SHORTAGES FOOD STAPLES FOOD STOCKS FOOD SUBSIDIES FOODGRAINS FUTURE EARNINGS HEALTH SERVICES HOUSEHOLD INCOME HOUSEHOLD LEVEL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS HOUSEHOLD VULNERABILITY HOUSEHOLD WELFARE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IFPRI IMPACT OF SHOCKS IMPACT ON POVERTY IMPACT ON POVERTY REDUCTION INCOME INCOME DISTRIBUTION INCOME DYNAMICS INCOME GROWTH INEQUALITY INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE IRRIGATION LABOR MARKETS LABOR SUPPLY LANDHOLDINGS LEVEL OF POVERTY LIVING COSTS LOCAL FARMERS LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION LOW WAGES LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES MAIZE MALNUTRITION MARKET PRICES MEANS TESTING MEAT MILK NATIONAL LEVEL NEW POOR NUTRITIONAL NEEDS NUTRITIONAL PROGRAMS NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION POLICY DECISIONS POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER POLICY RESPONSE POLITICAL ECONOMY POOR POOR AREAS POOR BENEFIT POOR CHILDREN POOR CONSUMERS POOR COUNTRIES POOR DISTRICTS POOR HOUSEHOLDS POOR INDIVIDUALS POOR PEOPLE POOR PRODUCERS POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT POPULATION GROUPS POPULATION SUBGROUPS POST-CONFLICT COUNTRIES POTATOES POVERTY ANALYSIS POVERTY ASSESSMENTS POVERTY DYNAMICS POVERTY ESTIMATES POVERTY IMPACT POVERTY INDICATORS POVERTY LEVELS POVERTY LINE POVERTY LINES POVERTY MAP POVERTY MAPPING POVERTY MAPS POVERTY MEASURES POVERTY RATE POVERTY REDUCTION POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGIES POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY PRICE ELASTICITY PRICE STABILIZATION PRODUCTION RATIO PRODUCTIVE ASSETS PROGRESS PROTEIN PUBLIC RESOURCES PUBLIC SAFETY NET PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS RATIONS REFUGEES RESERVATION WAGE RESPECT RETURNEES RICE RURAL RURAL AREAS RURAL DWELLERS RURAL HOUSEHOLD RURAL HOUSEHOLDS RURAL LEVEL RURAL POOR RURAL WELFARE SAFETY NET SAFETY NET PROGRAMS SAFETY NETS SAVINGS SCHOOL FEEDING SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMS SCHOOLING SECONDARY EDUCATION SHOCK SMALL LANDHOLDINGS SOCIAL IMPACT SOCIAL PROTECTION SOCIAL SAFETY NET SOCIAL UNREST SOUTH ASIAN STAPLE FOODS SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA SUBSIDIZING SUGAR TARGETING TERTIARY EDUCATION TRANSFER PROGRAMS TRANSFERS IN CASH TUBERS UNEMPLOYMENT UNSKILLED WORKERS URBAN AREAS URBAN DWELLERS URBAN POPULATION URBAN POVERTY VITAMINS VULNERABLE GROUPS VULNERABLE MEMBERS WAGE RATE WAGE RATES WFP WHEAT WORKFARE WORKS PROGRAM WORKS PROJECTS WORLD FOOD PROGRAM WORLD POPULATION The increase in food prices represents a major crisis for the world's poor. This paper aims to review the evidence on the potential impact of higher food prices on poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, and examines the extent to which policy responses will benefit the poor. The paper shows that rising food prices are likely to lead to higher poverty in sub-Saharan Africa as the negative impact on net poor consumers outweighs the benefits to poor producers. A recent survey shows that the most common policy response in sub-Saharan African countries is reducing taxes on food while outside the region price controls or targeted consumer subsidies are the most popular measure. Sub-Saharan African countries also have a higher prevalence of food-based safety net programs which are being scaled up to respond to rising prices. The review suggests that the benefits from reducing import tariffs on staples may accrue largely to the non-poor. Social protection programs show more promise, but geographic targeting is likely to be crucial in ensuring that benefits reach the neediest. The paper also argues that anti-poverty interventions ought to retain their focus on rural areas where poverty remains highest even after taking into account the adverse impact on the urban poor due to the rise in food prices. 2012-06-01T21:34:11Z 2012-06-01T21:34:11Z 2008-10 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/10/9899936/rising-food-prices-sub-saharan-africa-poverty-impact-policy-responses http://hdl.handle.net/10986/6938 English Policy Research Working Paper; No. 4738 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank World Bank, Washington, DC Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper Publications & Research