Synopsis This book is a classic analysis of an extraordinary paradox: in a world of food surpluses and satiety, hunger kills millions more each year than do wars or political repression. This collection of influential essays addresses a wide range of policy issues relating to the role of public action in combating hunger and deprivation in the modern world. It covers topics like the characteristics and causal antecedents of famine and endemic deprivation; the interconnections between economic and political factors; the problems of women's deprivation; the connection between food consumption and other indicators of living standards; and the medical aspects of undernourishment and its consequences. Ranging from Africa to South Asia to China, and written by an international array of authorities, this collection gives the best available analysis of the causes of worldwide hunger and deprivation, and provides hope for effective aid policies in the future.