Introduction to the special issue on the world food crisis

This issue of Agricultural Economics contains articles on the causes and effects of rising food prices. All papers were subject to full, double-blind peer review on an accelerated basis, in an effort to publish the best new research as quickly as possible. We received more than 60 submissions; referees were given three weeks to respond, and authors of candidate papers had an additional week to revise their work before final acceptance. Articles published use descriptive, econometric, and simulation methods for both global overviews and case studies.