Amartya Sen, a Nobel laureate and writer on the politics of famine, says rising demand (for example, from the Asian middle classes) and not failing productivity is the main reason for the current crisis.

ECONOMIST: The world food summit

The senator proposes that the Social Security system be counted separately from the main budget, since workers' current contributions are not meant to be used on regular spending programmes, but are supposed to fund future pensions.

ECONOMIST: Phil Gramm goes shooting

Standardizing interest rates is something that could help Main Street, and would force institutions to treat customers as people, not numbers when dealing with current market rates and existing relationships.

FORBES: American Dream Of Homeownership Fading. Rejoice.