The pilot food price subsidy scheme; The study areas; Assessment of implementation; Analytical methodology; Descriptive analysis of income, consumption, and nutritional patterns; A comparative analysis of the effects of the food price subsidy Scheme; A multivariate analysis of the effects of the food subsidy Scheme; Cost-effectiveness analysis.

The Egyptian Food Subsidy System: Structure, Performance, and Options for Reform evaluates the economic, political, and technical feasibility of reducing costs while improving or maintaining the welfare of the poor. The report addresses five questions: (1) How well does the present system target the poor? (2) How much leakage- the pilferage of subsidized foods in the distribution channel-occurs? (3) At what cost does the government transfer income to the needy? (4) How can subsidies be better targeted to the needy? And (5) What are politically feasible options for reform?

Since its earliest years IFPRI has conducted research on food subsidies, concentrating on methods to achieve the social objectives of subsidies without undue distortion of the economy or excessive economic and political costs. Studies have been conducted in eleven countries, several of which have been the site of more than one project. IFPRI research on food subsidies has had, and continues to have, significant impact at the country level. Moreover, the cumulative weight of the research has influenced how the development community regards food subsidy issues.

The policy change; Price subsidy and food stamp benefits; The beneficiaries; The effect on fiscal costs and income distribution; Patterns of food consumption and nutrition before and after the subsidy program change; Inflation and the real value of food stamps; Impact of food stamps on nutrition and cost-effectiveness; The nutrition of children and income transfer.

Conceptual framework for food security; Dimensions of the food security problem; Review of policies and programs for improving household food security; Principles and priorities for policy actions.

Research objectives and policy setting; Conceptual framework and research design; Changes in land tenure patterns; Comparison of the corn and sugar production systems; Food expenditures and calorie intakes; Heights and weights of prschools children.

Trends and changes in foodgrain production; Input use and production behavior; Trends and changes in per capita consumption of foodgrains; Scenarios for the year 2000.