Importing High Food Prices by Exporting : Rice Prices in Lao PDR

Durevall, Dick ; van der Weide, Roy

World Bank Group, Washington, DC

关键词: AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS;    AGRICULTURAL PRICE;    AGRICULTURE;    ARBITRAGE;    AVERAGE PRICE;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-7119
RP-ID  :  WPS7119

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

This paper shows how a developingcountry, Lao PDR, imports high glutinous rice prices byexporting its staple food to neighboring countries, Vietnamand Thailand. Lao PDR has extensive export controls on rice,generating a sizable difference between domestic andinternational prices. Controls are relaxed after goodharvests, leading to a surge in exports early in the seasonand rapidly rising prices later in the year. There is thus astrong case for removal of trade restrictions since theygive rise to price spikes, keep the long-term price ofglutinous rice low, and thereby hinder increases in incomefrom agriculture. Although this is a case study of Lao PDR,the findings may equally apply to other developing countriesthat export their staple food.