Theoretical Research and Empirical Analysis of Food Security in China - Young Economists' Series of Fudan University

Author: Gao Fan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: This book analyzes a problem with "germ" properties: why food security has become an issue. After multi-dimensional interpretation of the connotation of food security, it argues that the nature of food security, or why it has become a problem, 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 issues in these areas, it cannot rely solely on the power of the government or the market; rather, it must seek the integration and effective interaction between the government and the market. Naturally, the interaction between the government and the market is an appropriate perspective for analyzing food security issues. This book believes that China's food security faces systemic risks, and from the root cause, these risks stem from the lack of 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 shows that China's food security level has improved while fluctuating. In terms of past food policies, the asymmetry between the one-sidedness of the government and the systemic nature of risks led to the government failing to achieve the expected results, and food security levels often fluctuated. Naturally, future food policies should address the one-sidedness of current policies and promote the sustainable improvement of food security levels. From this perspective, we propose principles, approaches, and policy measures to improve China's food policies. The key to these policy recommendations lies in promoting effective interaction between theory and the market in the food sector, achieving China's food security goals through orderly marketization under government regulation.