Economics of World Food

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Economics of World Food
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T. Robert Malthus 1798

• The power of population is indefinitely greater
  than the power in the earth to produce
  subsistence for man. 
• Population, when unchecked, increases in a
  geometrical ratio. Subsistence increases only in
  an arithmetical ratio.
• A slight acquaintance with numbers will show the
  immensity of the first power in comparison of the
  second. 

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Thomas Jefferson

• While we have land to labor, let us never wish to
  see our citizens occupied at a workbench.
• For the general operations of manufacture, let
  our workshops remain in Europe. It is better to
  carry provisions and materials to workmen there.
  1782
• We should long keep our workmen in Europe, while
  Europe should be drawing rough materials, and
  even subsistence from America. 1785
• To be independent for the comforts of life we
  must fabricate them ourselves. 1816

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Caloric Intake

• World Food Production gt Amount needed in the
  world
• Large variation in calorie intake among countries
• Even larger variation within countries
• Major cause of variation poverty

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Urbanization and Food

• High urbanization rates exceed ability of
  agricultural sector to supply urban area
• Expanding cities and deforestation encroach on
  agricultural land
• Tree removal reduces lands ability to hold water
  and topsoil ? Erosion

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Comparative Advantage

• Exports based on comparative advantage maximize
  global output
• Specialization may result from need to pay off
  foreign debt
• But specialization divert agricultural land away
  from food production
• Food shortages may be more common
• Increase need to import food