China's food: availability,requirements, composition,prospects

The partial end of the twenty-year statistical blackout enables the construction of a reliable food balance sheet for China and the comparison of average food availability with likely energy requirements. Results show that virtually no improvement has taken place in average Chinese diets between the late 1950s and the late 1970s and that available food is barely adequate to cover essential growth and work requirements. However, new farming policies are already bringing in a greater supply of non-staple foods and, given political stability, they should appreciably improve Chinese diets during the next generation.     

Lesotho's food priorities

Lesotho is a small independent nation completely surrounded by South Africa. Of its 33000 km², 87% is peaks and high mountain pastures, leaving only one km² of arable land for each 325 people. Low yields on limited arable land leave the country serious food deficit. Production shortfalls are overcome with large commercial imports and substantial concessional food aid. Commercial imports through retail channels are financed by migrant remittances. Nearly half of the male labour force work in South Africa. Their repatriated wages contribute 40% of gross national income and 63% of rural household income.¹ Thus consumer markets are relatively well monetized and 55% of migrant remittances is spent on food.²     

Solving Africa's food problem

It has been predicted that the most difficult food problems in the world during the next decade will occur in the African continent as a whole and particularly in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. This article looks at the common characteristics of and differences between African countries, economy, socio-political conditions, agriculture and agricultural policies. Major problems of low agricultural production, increasing levels of poverty and high levels of food dependence are discussed, and policies to alleviate them put forward.     

China's food and agriculture: A turning point

The prospects for food and agriculture in China depend upon the prospects for changes in the population between urban and rural sectors, changes in the levels of food consumption in these sectors, and the potential for increasing production in response to increased demand. Prof Ishikawa examines the elements influencing demand pressure, the economics of mechanisation in China, and the economic and social conditions in which the mechanisation can be realised. He concludes that China is facing a new situation in which a significant change in either or both the resource allocation pattern and the incentive system will be required.     

Ghana's agricultural food policy: Operation feed yourself

Prompted by food shortages, the newly ensconced Ghanaian military regime in 1972 initiated ‘Operation Feed Yourself’, a national programme directed at increased production of food crops. The authors attempt to determine how effective Operation Feed Yourself has been in attaining its goals. The bureaucracy which was set in place to implement the programme is assessed. Building on personal interviews conducted in Ghana with persons responsible for and affected by it, the authors discuss the successes and shortcomings of Operation Feed Yourself and suggest areas in which improvement might be made.     

Is rationing socialist?: Cuba's food distribution system

Cuba, an economically underdeveloped country, has achieved a goal that even most developed countries find elusive: it has eliminated hunger. A 1982 report prepared for the Joint Economic Committee of the US Congress acknowledged that Cuba has ‘eliminated almost all malnutrition, particularly among small children.’¹ This article looks at how Cuba has managed to feed its people. It also questions whether the system created 25 years ago to ensure just distribution, ie rationing, today stands as an obstacle to the further development of Cuba's food system.     

The IMF's food financing facility: Much ado about nothing

In May 1981 the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced its decision to extend compensatory financing assistance to members encountering balance of payments difficulties caused by increased cereal import costs. At the time, the Food Financing Facility was welcomed as a significant step towards providing a more adequate level of world food security. Since its establishment, only limited use has been made of the facility and the Director-General of the FAO commented recently that ‘it needs to be improved’.     

Britain's national food survey: Whose purpose does it serve?

Britain's National Food Survey is described in terms of its historical and present purpose. The authors make a critique of the survey. Criticisms include: sampling errors; poor response rate; behaviour changes and individual interpretation of the questionnaire; classification, presentation, and duplication of results. Detailed recommendations for improving the survey are presented. Suggestions are made in the following areas: the justification for the survey, the methodology used, the analysis and presentation of results.     

What's in a label?: Consumers,public policy and food labels

All industrialized countries share a minimum set of food-labelling regulations. A major purpose is to protect and inform the consumer and, in recent years, the labelling of nutritional content and of permitted additives has received increased attention. Differences in labelling practices between countries in these areas reflect differing approaches to complex policy issues such as the relative emphasis to be placed on consumer information, as opposed to price or product modification, and the extent of consumer participation in the policy-making process.     

Australia's telecom 2000

Telecom 2000 explores the implications of the growing interaction between telecommunications and society. The author outlines the main findings concerning Australia's social and economic future, the possible directions of telecommunications, and the policies and strategies recommended to guide its development through the coming decades.     

The Children's Foundation

In 1968 a Congressional subcommittee and The Field Foundation reported that hunger and malnutrition were a way of life for ten to fifteen million people in the USA. The report shocked many Americans. The Children's Foundation was borne out of that study and for the past ten years has fought to feed hungry children and their families in the USA by using the food assistance programmes authorized by Congress and administered by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).     

华赛开辟新战场

左手洽购3Com,右手又在拥抱赛门铁克,左右手同时出击的华为,在与跨国公司进行的商业游戏中显得游刃有余,华为究竟意欲何为呢?赛门铁克和3Com都是美国公司,而北美市场一直都是华为觊觎已久但又是不得门而入的"世外桃源",尽管联合贝恩资本洽购3Com未果,但是华为和赛门铁克的合作却已经拉开序幕。无论最终会与赛门铁克和3Com这两大跨国公司形成什么样的战略关系,华为始终是这场利益互换游戏中的主导者。而且,当市场不断为华为增加筹码,竞合游戏的天平自然而然就会向华为倾斜。在和跨国公司的反复竞合中,我们看到的是华为日益惊人的商业驾驭能力和市场掌控能力。     

3com命系华为

左手洽购3Com,右手又在拥抱赛门铁克,左右手同时出击的华为,在与跨国公司进行的商业游戏中显得游刃有余,华为究竟意欲何为呢?赛门铁克和3Com都是美国公司,而北美市场一直都是华为觊觎已久但又是不得门而入的"世外桃源",尽管联合贝恩资本洽购3Com未果,但是华为和赛门铁克的合作却已经拉开序幕。无论最终会与赛门铁克和3Com这两大跨国公司形成什么样的战略关系,华为始终是这场利益互换游戏中的主导者。而且,当市场不断为华为增加筹码,竞合游戏的天平自然而然就会向华为倾斜。在和跨国公司的反复竞合中,我们看到的是华为日益惊人的商业驾驭能力和市场掌控能力。     

EUTELSAT's regional role

Interim EUTELSAT was established in 1977 as the provisional organization for the operation of commercial satellite telecommunications systems for the European region. EUTELSAT's definitive statute is expected to come into force at the beginning of 1984. This article looks at the objectives of EUTELSAT and considers the organization's role as a regional operator within the context of a global satellite communications system.     

土库曼斯坦承包作业中非居民企业所得税的特点与风险

中国企业在土库曼斯坦从事经营活动涉及签订直接对外贸易合同、在土库曼斯坦注册常驻机构以及未在土库曼斯坦注册分支机构三种模式,三种模式缴纳非居民企业所得税的特点不同,面临的风险也不同.中国企业在土库曼斯坦获取经营所得涉及的非居民企业所得税,不仅受《土库曼斯坦税法典》的制约,还受土库曼斯坦其他法律规范以及国际协定的制约,合同模式多样,是一项非常复杂的工作.