International Economics: IB Economics

The Guardian take on the prospects of a looming global food crisis - a call to action. 

The prospect of a global food crisis seems to be the big story of the week - something unequivocally asserted by the UN General Secretary, Antonio Guterres. 

You want an example of the law of unintended consequences. Here you go. 

High gas prices could adversely affect fertiliser production, and this could cause a famine in some of the world's most vulnerable developing economies. Not a particularly pleasant example, but a good one nonetheless. 

The UN Food Programme has highlighted the prospect of widespread famine as a result of the war in Ukraine - the Russian blockade of Ukraine's grain exports - driving up food prices and increasing food poverty in developing economies. 

I heard this interview on the Today programme before 7am, when the head of Yara International suggested that higher gas prices were having an effect on fertiliser production.

I'd never given any thought to the fact that the two are complements, but the latest rises in wholesale gas prices have meant that some fertiliser plants have shutdown and the price of fertiliser has risen. This means that the poorest are less able to afford fertiliser and may face food shortages in the year ahead. 

Yet more headwinds facing the global economy, it would seem.

The clip looks at the World Bank's latest efforts to tackle famine and food security. It is about applying the latest technology to manage data and give earlier famine warning.

However, it might be reflecting on the fact that Amartya Sen would probably quibble with the definition of famine - his view is that famines have never occurred in truly democratic states.