Poverty in Asia and the transition to high-priced food staples

There are three basic ways to reduce poverty: redistribute productive assets (especially land) to the poor; provide direct income supplements or subsidies to the poor; and connect the poor to rapid, sustained economic growth. Over the past century, Asia has tried all three approaches to reducing poverty. The historical record suggests that only economic growth in which the poor participate can lift large numbers of the population out of poverty and keep them and subsequent generations above the poverty line. Creating the technologies, infrastructure and environment for such growth requires active government policy. This policy brief reviews the historical lessons from the Asian experience with reductions in poverty and hunger, then examines current issues and the challenges ahead. The focus is on the role of government policy in enhancing food security at both the household and national level, because achieving and sustaining food security is the end result of reductions in poverty and hunger. Thus there is an inevitable need to address the underlying political economy that explains why some governments have been more successful than others in providing and sustaining food security for their citizens.