Question

Which of the following is the primary cause of the famines that struck the developing world with greater frequency during the 1970s and 1980s?

a. increasing droughts due to climate change.
b. hybrid "mule" seeds that produced for only one crop cycle.
c. over-farming and rerouting of water sources
d. failure of governments to pay attention to rural concerns, and overreliance on export production
e. exploding population growth in the affected areas.

Answer 1

The famines of the 1970s and 1980s were primarily caused by government neglect of rural areas and an overemphasis on export production, exacerbated by other factors like climate change and over-farming.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary cause of the famines in the developing world during the 1970s and 1980s was the failure of governments to pay attention to rural concerns and an overreliance on export production. This was compounded by a series of other factors, including climate change, droughts, over-farming, poverty, and war. It is crucial to note that while the Green Revolution significantly increased agricultural yield, local famines persisted, often due to political issues. Moreover, the Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen indicated that famines were frequently caused by the failure of government macroeconomic policy rather than a lack of food availability.

Sen's research underscores the importance of macroeconomic stability, full employment, the education of women, and the preservation of property rights as essential in eliminating starvation and ensuring a more equitable distribution of food.