Indeed, accelerated resource degradation in DRAs is mainly the cumulative consequence of developed country policies that have led to (1) a tripling of world real interest rates between 1945-1974 and 1979-1993, and in the longer term, (2) falling and unstable relative farm prices, and (3) labor-displacing technical progress. In this chapter I set out reasons for believing that these international effects have been paramount.

In its analysis of the causes of natural resource degradation in DRAs, the text

Item 2 - includes the historically declining relative farm prices in the world markets as one of the reasons for the degradation;