The "shutdown" measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic have led to a drop in prices on the oil and energy markets. As a result, countries that are dependent on the export of raw materials are currently facing existential challenges. They are confronted with devaluing currencies or decreasing currency reserves. As these countries are often dependent on food imports of e.g. rice and wheat, currency devaluations cause rising food prices on the domestic markets. This places a burden on already low-income economies and jeopardises food security. IAMO Policy Brief No. 37 examines the effects of Covid-19 measures on food markets and makes recommendations to the international international community to prevent restrictions on global food security in the long term.
The publication has been published in German, English and will soon be available in Russian. The issue can be downloaded free of charge here:
Heigermoser, Maximilian; Glauben, Thomas (2020) COVID-19, der Ölpreisverfall und die Ernährungssicherheit einkommensschwacher Staaten. IAMO Policy Brief No. 37, Halle (Saale). Download
Heigermoser, Maximilian; Glauben, Thomas (2020) COVID-19, the oil price slump and food security in low-income countries. IAMO Policy Brief No. 37, Halle (Saale). Download