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Tuesday October 2, 2012

Can Riots Be Predicted? Experts Watch Food Prices

A Tunisian protester holds a baguette while taking to riot police in January 2011. Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images

The Salt

Can Riots Be Predicted? Experts Watch Food Prices

October 2, 2012 • High food prices have often been cited as a factor behind mass protest movements. But a group of researchers say food prices can actually be used to predict when social unrest will occur. And according to their mathematical modeling, we've hit the threshold for more waves of riots.

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