In fact, the FAO uses global cereal inventories as indicators of global food security.11 3 CAUSES OF THE 2010–2011 RISE IN CEREAL PRICES The literature on food price increases identifies a number of factors that could explain the cereal price increase of 2010–2011. [...] This increases the demand for, price of and production of ethanol, which in turn boosts the demand for and price of corn.27 3.3 SPECULATION While they do not all agree, some experts and political representatives believe that the supply of and demand for cereals have also suffered the effects of speculation.28 A 2011 study showed a positive correlation between stock market values and the price of f [...] One study has shown that the food price increase of 2010–2011 were a contributing factor in the riots that took place in some developing countries.38 These riots brought about many deaths (see Figure 4) and were among the causes of the political instability in certain North African countries (including the “Arab Spring”) and the Middle East.39 LIBRARY OF PARLIAMENT 7 PUBLICATION NO. [...] This law had been passed by the Government of the United States following the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression of the 1930s to limit the undesirable effects of unfettered speculation.