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Well, not from producing copious quantities of tea. Globalization meant they (thought they) could specialize in growing tea and let someone else specialize in g
by plantain 4y ago
Well, not from producing copious quantities of tea. Globalization meant they (thought they) could specialize in growing tea and let someone else specialize in growing food. In theory - everyone wins.
- chii 4y agoIn theory yes, but in practise, you cannot completely 100% specialize without taking on an asymmetric risk (that of the outside party not selling you food due to their own or some other crisis). The risk is asymmetric because your specialty (tea) isn't an absolute necessity (may be 'cept to the brits), and yet, you _need_ food (an absolute necessity).
- mannerheim 4y agoSri Lanka was self-sufficient in rice as recently as a few years ago. Banning fertiliser cut yields by 35%. https://www.canr.msu.edu/prci/publications/Policy-Research-Notes/PRCI_PRN_3.pdf https://www.canr.msu.edu/prci/publications/Policy-Research-N...