Higher food and fuel prices have been blamed for considerable adverse macroeconomic effects on growth and inflation since the start of the year. The twin food and fuel price hikes are impacting world macroeconomic stability, and policy responses have generated fiscal pressures in many developing countries. This session will look at both short and long-term approaches to address these impacts as well as potential macroeconomic opportunities, looking at:

• What have been the recent trends and key determinants behind higher food and energy prices and what has been the impact on the poor and vulnerable?


• What are the appropriate tools for managing inflation and what are the effects of different policy options on inflation management?


• How can trade policy help to alleviate these shocks?

The discussion will also touch on the effects and lessons learned of recent policy options adopted by different countries, and provide participants with the opportunity to question the experts as well as colleagues from participating countries.