Food Prices and Political Instability

We examine the effects that variations in the international food prices have on democracy and intra-state conflict using panel data for over 120 countries during the period 1970-2007. Our main finding is that in Low Income Countries increases in the international food prices lead to a significant deterioration of democratic institutions and a significant increase in the incidence of anti-government demonstrations, riots, and civil conflict. In the High Income Countries variations in the international food prices have no significant effects on democratic institutions and measures of intra-state conflict. Our empirical results point to a significant externality of variations in international food prices on Low Income Countries'' social and political stability.
Publication date: March 2011
ISBN: 9781455221066
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Economics- Macroeconomics , Economics / General , International - Economics , food prices , food price , food insecurity , food consumption , food exports , food staples , food producers , food exporting , food market , food riots

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