The overall theme of this study is agricultural market performance with a particular focus on
food markets, especially in the face of acute market volatility. The study consists of four subthemes
as follows:
1. “Assessing instability in food prices and production over time: this part provides context
to the subsequent discussion on market performance, and includes analysis of production
and price instability and seasonality (over 1973-2008)”
2. “Market Analysis: Revisiting market performance – market structure, costs and margins
across value-chains; market integration across domestic markets and with the crossborder
economy”
3. “Market Institutions – exploring the mechanisms of exchange, especially over longer
distances, and the informal institutions and trading networks that underpin complex
forms of trade”