The impact of the fluctuations in global markets for agricultural crops on the future of food security in Arab countries “An econometric study”

Abstract

The topic of this PhD thesis is: The impact of the fluctuations in global markets for agricultural crops on the future of food security in Arab countries (An econometric study) This PhDdissertation is divided into three parts,each part is divided into two chapters. The first part is an overview of world’s per capita pattern of consumption of food, and the main reasons behind the fluctuations in global markets of agricultural food crops. Chapter one of this part concentrates on main agricultural food crops. In 2011, about 82% of world’s per capita intake of calories is from vegetal products, and 45% of world’s per capita intake of calories is from cereals, and as a result of the inability to study all types of cereals, the researcher focused on the three mega crops of cereals; wheat, rice, and maize. In addition, the chapter focused on studying the market of these three crops, which include major producers, consumers, exporters, and importers. From the analysis of these markets, the researcher deduced that most of the producers and exporters of these three mega crops are the developed and emerging countries, while the share of the developing countries is very small. Finally, the chapter provided an overview of the way prices of the agricultural crops are determined, and the difference between volatility, trend, and spikes of prices.