Have been following the discussion with interest. Is the key issue that if income support programmes replace subsidised public distribution systems,it leaves low income people needing to buy in commercial markets and at risk of having the real value of the transfer eroded by price rises ( the price rises might be cause by a number of factors: supply bottle necks, sellers raising their profit margins, rises in prices of imports etc).? The change is not just one of vehicle for delivery of financial support ( subsidies to prices or to incomes), but of change in the type of market through which people acess the good ( public to private)?
best wishes
Diane Elson,
Emeritus Professor, Uiversity of Essex, member of UN Committee for Development Policy
best wishes
Diane Elson,
Emeritus Professor, Uiversity of Essex, member of UN Committee for Development Policy
