A Handbook of Primary Commodities in the Global Economy

 A guide to the ins and outs of the primary commodity universe, now in its third edition.

Marian Radetzki (Author), Linda Wårell (Author)

9781108970914, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 November 2020

350 pages, 20 b/w illus. 31 tables
15 x 23 x 2 cm, 0.51 kg

'I can think of a host of readers gaining insights from this book, a most accomplished handbook of the primary commodities in the global economy … it provides a good overview of all the commodity-producing industries, from both a theoretical and a practical perspective. Easy to read and assimilate, it should be required reading not just for students but also within companies and government departments.' Anton Löf, Mineral Economics

The dramatic price falls of 2014–2015 marked the end of the most powerful and enduring commodity boom since the Second World War. Now in its third edition, this book acts as a guide to the ins and outs of the primary commodity universe. Updates to this edition reflect on the consequences of both China's economic slowdown as its industrialization enters a new, less commodity demanding phase, and changes in the USA's trade policy under the Trump administration. Additionally, this edition takes into account recent developments in world oil markets and examines the effects of increased climate concerns. The authors introduce and explain pertinent issues surrounding international commodity markets such as the global geography of raw materials, price formation, price trends, the role of commodity exchanges, the threat of depletion, cartel action, state ownership, emerging commodity nationalism and more.

1. The Historical Framework
2. The Geography of Commodity Production and Trade
3. Comparative Advantage and the Trade Policy Distortions
4. Fossil Fuels
5. Price Formation and Price Trends in Commodities
6. Commodity Booms
7. The Commodity Exchanges, Commodity Investments and Speculation
8. Sustainability and the Threats of Resource Depletion
9. Fears of and Measures to Assure Supply Security
10. Producer Cartels in International Commodity Markets
11. Public Ownership in Primary Commodity Production
12. The Monoeconomies: Issues Raised by Heavy Dependence on Commodity Production and Exports
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Environmental economics [KCN], International economics [KCL], Economics, finance, business & management [K]