Most North African governments maintain the support of the people through subsidies for basic goods. One of the most important subsidies is for the price of wheat or bread. Across the Middle East and North Africa, bread is a staple of everyone’s diet. Even a small increase in the price of bread can have a major effect on a family’s budget. This past week, the Moroccan government repealed an increase to the price of bread in the face of major resistance from the general populace. It is important to begin understanding the importance of this issue in North Africa, since there is a similar dynamic in Tunisia.
Here are two articles that discuss the situation in Morocco. The View from Fez is an exclusively Moroccan blog. And the Arabist looks at issues across the Middle East and North Africa.
