Commentary
A glance at history reveals a strong correlation between food prices and civil unrest. Roman poet Juvenal once wrote, “Two things only the people anxiously desire—bread and circuses”—that is, food and entertainment. Roman emperors understood the political importance of food and would keep the people happy by giving them free grain handouts. But when food becomes scarce and a worker’s labor isn’t sufficient to procure sustenance, civil wars and revolutions often follow.
