Fachartikel
The relevance of speculation

The relevance of speculation

Food speculation is ubiquitous. Systemic benefits from risk sharing between farmers and financial speculators have to be weighed against the resulting high price volatility and the possible emergence of price bubbles. A new speculative strategy of index-oriented investments seems to be exacerbating recent upward price trends on the global food market. Adverse currency developments and local food speculation in the developing world are aggravating the plight of the poor.

(Dieser Artikel ist bereits erschienen in: Rural 21. The International Journal for Rural Development, 05/2011, pp. 17-21)