But there are many more who recognize the real cost of artificially cheap food - to their health, to the land, to the animals, to the public purse.

It lends money out at an artificially cheap rate (the rediscount rate) and conducts open market purchases.

Manufacturers complain that China has kept its exports artificially cheap by keeping the yuan undervalued against the dollar.

Artificially cheap food exported to poor countries might seem like a gift - but it is often a Trojan horse.

Now the source of that ability to put artificially cheap bread on the table is drying up.

We are only cheating ourselves if we make energy artificially cheap and use more than we can really afford.

One way has been to keep energy and other natural resources artificially cheap.

Also, third-world governments often keep housing and energy artificially cheap.

This is because food, rent, clothing and other daily necessities are kept artificially cheap.

They are set below farmers' costs of production, so the companies can buy raw materials at an artificially cheap price.