Theoretical Research and Empirical Analysis of Food Security in China

Author: Gao Fan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: This book analyzes a problem with "embryonic" characteristics: how food security becomes an issue. After providing multidimensional interpretations of the connotation of food security, it argues that the nature of food security, or why it becomes an issue, lies in the conflict between food as a private good and security as a public good. This conflict manifests in areas such as production, consumption, distribution, and trade. From this perspective, to address the nature of food security and resolve problems in these areas, relying solely on the power of the government or the market is insufficient; it is essential to seek a combination and effective interaction between the government and the market. Naturally, the interaction between the government and the market is an appropriate lens for analyzing food security issues. This book contends that China's food security faces systemic risks, which, at their root, stem from the lack of a healthy government-market interaction during the transition period. Based on an understanding of the risk characteristics, we propose a relatively systematic measure of food security, which reveals that China's food security level has improved amid fluctuations. Regarding past food policies, the asymmetry between the government's unidirectional approach and systemic risks has led to unsatisfactory outcomes, with food security levels often experiencing volatility. Consequently, future food policies should address the unidirectional nature of current policies and promote the sustained improvement of food security levels. From this starting point, we propose principles, approaches, and policy measures to refine China's food policies. The key to these policy recommendations lies in fostering effective interaction between theory and the market in the food sector, achieving China's food security goals through an orderly marketization under government regulation.