The Right to Food in Market Economies: what governments ought to do for food security

Abstract

To operationalize the basic right to food means to impose duties on national governments to their citizens. At least the government bears a negative duty not to hinder food security and, arguably, a positive duty to help the hungry enjoy their right to food. An analysis of governmental duties vis-à-vis market actors shows that there are conflicting rights and interests at stake. Poor consumers need aid to have their claim-right to food fulfilled, but that comes at the cost of other consumers paying higher prices for their food. Moreover, producers have a liberty right to use their property the way they deem most efficient. Ultimately, governments have to weigh these rights and interests, that is, to choose from specific kinds of freedom and equity. This balancing act of public policymaking should be guided by the notion that basic rights trump other rights, and other rights trump other interests.