Such actions may be effective in assuaging guilt but provide no solution to the world food problem. Indeed, eating less by U.S. citizens may well be counter-productive since, if effective, it would decrease demand, resulting in a lower price and consequently decreased production. Temporary relief can and often should be provided when food problems are worsened by droughts, floods, and other disasters. Long-run food aid, however, is almost certain to have a disincentive effect on agricultural production in recipient countries. Thus, the long-run solution to world food problems must lie within the countries facing food problems rather than in food aid programs.
Population is an important factor in the demand for food.
Yet, population increases are now being used as a scapegoat in connection with the food crisis. Lifeboat ethics which involves saving a limited number of lives while deliberately letting others die is now being seriously discussed. In recent years, however, there has been a dramatic decrease in the birth rate in the U.S. and throughout the temperate zone. The population problem in developing countries is closely related to the income problem. As per capita incomes increase, the birth rate decreases.