This interdisciplinary study applies human rights theory to the problems of rural poverty in the Third World. Considering the interdependence of minimal food and health security with minimal assurance of basic freedoms, political scientist Alan G. Smith traces the linkage to the need of the food-insecure to seek clientelistic dependencies on better-off neighbors—relationships that often operate to restrict freedom of choice. In contrast to conventional rural development aid, which can introduce new client dependency if pursued alone, Smith stresses the need to find other forms of aid that would provide the option of assured minimal survival while avoiding the constraints imposed by dependency. Arguing for bolstering bottom-up human rights momentum, he suggests the transfer of appropriate tools into the hands of the target group. Recipients would make use of them to enhance autonomous food-crop production, thereby making client dependency a matter of choice rather than necessity. Smith illustrates the Third World predicament of food insecurity leading to infringement of rights by drawing together empirical evidence from Bangladesh, Botswana, and Tanzania. He further argues that respect for human rights involves a duty on the part of advantaged nations to address the Third World predicament with practical measures fully consistent with human rights, and for each of these three country cases, Smith recommends direct locally specific minimalist aid. His model, its practical illustration, and recommendations should be valuable to academics and students in the fields of rural sociology, anthropology, and political science—especially those focusing on human rights, poverty, and Third World development—as well as bureaucrats and consultants in the development aid field.

How 401(k)s have gutted retirement security, from charging exorbitant hidden fees to failing to replace the income of traditional pensions Named one of PW's Top 10 for Business & Economics A retirement crisis is looming. In 2008, as the 401(k) fallout rippled across the country, horrified holders watched 25 percent of their funds evaporate overnight. Average 401(k) balances for those approaching retirement are too small to generate more than $4,000 in annual retirement income, and experts predict that nearly half of middle-class workers will be poor or near poor in retirement. But long before the recession, signs were mounting that few people would ever be able to accumulate enough wealth on their own to ensure financial security later in life. This hasn’t always been the case. Each generation of workers since the nineteenth century has had more retirement security than the previous generation. That is, until 1981, when shaky 401(k) plans began replacing traditional pensions. For the last thirty years, we’ve been advised that the best way to build one’s nest egg is to heavily invest in 401(k)-type programs, even though such plans were originally designed to be a supplement to rather than the basis for retirement. This financial experiment, promoted by neoliberals and aggressively peddled by Wall Street, has now come full circle, with tens of millions of Americans discovering that they would have been better off under traditional pension plans long since replaced. As James W. Russell explains, this do-it-yourself retirement system—in which individuals with modest incomes are expected to invest large sums of capital in order to reap the same rewards as high-end money managers—isn’t working. Social Insecurity tells the story of a massive and international retirement robbery—a substantial transfer of wealth from everyday workers to Wall Street financiers via tremendously costly hidden fees. Russell traces what amounts to a perfect swindle, from its ideological origins at Milton Friedman’s infamous Chicago School to its implementation in Chile under Pinochet’s dictatorship and its adoption in America through Reaganomics. Enraging yet hopeful, Russell offers concrete ideas on how individuals and society can arrest this downward spiral.

This collected edition delves into diverse aspects of agricultural economics and food security across various regions.

HowExpert Guide to World Hunger: The Ultimate Handbook for Understanding Hunger, Promoting Food Security, and Achieving Global Food Equity is your essential guide to understanding and addressing one of the world’s most urgent challenges. This comprehensive resource delves into the root causes of hunger — such as poverty, conflict, climate change, and food distribution inefficiencies — while offering actionable solutions and highlighting global efforts to eradicate hunger. Whether you're an advocate, student, policymaker, or someone passionate about creating a hunger-free world, this guide equips you with the knowledge, strategies, and tools to make a real difference. - Introduction: A concise overview of the global hunger crisis, its complexity, and the critical need for collective action. - Chapter 1: The State of Hunger in the World Today: Examines current hunger statistics, global trends, and the socioeconomic impact of hunger on affected regions. - Chapter 2: Causes of World Hunger: Explores the underlying factors driving hunger, including economic disparities, political instability, and environmental challenges. - Chapter 3: Global Efforts and Initiatives: Highlights the work of international organizations, NGOs, and governments in fighting hunger through sustainable development goals and policies. - Chapter 4: Sustainable Solutions to Ending Hunger: Discusses innovations in sustainable agriculture, food waste reduction, and the role of technology in solving hunger. - Chapter 5: Nutrition and Education as Key Components: Emphasizes the importance of nutrition programs and educational initiatives in preventing malnutrition and improving food security. - Chapter 6: The Role of Economic Empowerment: Focuses on how microfinance, fair trade, and market access help empower communities to rise out of hunger and poverty. - Chapter 7: Raising Awareness and Advocacy: Shows the power of public awareness campaigns, grassroots movements, and media in driving global attention and action against hunger. - Chapter 8: Collaborating Across Sectors: Explains the importance of partnerships among governments, private sectors, and NGOs in creating impactful and long-lasting solutions. - Chapter 9: Case Studies of Successful Hunger Initiatives: Presents real-world examples of successful programs and initiatives that have effectively reduced hunger in different regions. - Chapter 10: The Future of Ending World Hunger: Explores emerging technologies and innovative strategies that can potentially end hunger on a global scale. - Conclusion: A powerful call to action for individuals, governments, and organizations to unite and work toward a future where hunger no longer exists. - Appendices: Provides valuable resources, global organizations, key statistics, reports, and events that offer opportunities for engagement and support in the fight against hunger. The fight against world hunger is not just a distant issue; it’s a challenge that demands action now. This guide has shown that through collaboration, innovation, and sustained commitment, we can all play a role in ending hunger for good. Whether it’s supporting initiatives, raising awareness, or participating in grassroots efforts, every action makes a difference. The time to act is today — let’s come together and turn the vision of a hunger-free world into reality. The future is in our hands; let’s make sure it’s one where no one ever goes hungry again. HowExpert publishes how to guides on all topics from A to Z.

This title was first published in 2001. This text is an exercise in learning from the voices of the communities living in Indian villages near urban areas. It is concerned, primarily, with learning what these communities have to say on their well-being and livelihoods and is, therefore, an attempt to record and register as much as possible of what these communities say. Agriculture in urban areas of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh plays an important role for livelihoods and in supplying foodstuffs to communities and markets. It constitutes a major source of income both for landowners and labourers. The study then looks at the relationship between agriculture and urban areas, and the phenomenon of industrialization/urbanization. In presenting these perspectives, the farmers gave insights into some related issues such as the role of agriculture in their livelihoods, the nature of agricultural constraints and the the impact of air pollution on quality of life.

Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have drawn the subject of food security firmly into the public eye. This timely Handbook examines and responds to this pertinent topic, offering calculated solutions to food insecurity. Exploring an international range of perspectives surrounding food security, it illustrates clear links between food and broader social welfare policy and economic determinants.