1.   But developing countries are still dependent for all their foreign currency earnings upon the fluctuations of commodity prices on the world Market.

2.   Commodity prices fell, interest rates soared and in some cases a Mobutu or a Marcos pocketed billions of dollars.

3.   Hence relative scale-adjusted commodity prices and relative factor rewards provide a valid prediction of the intersectoral pattern of trade.

4.   In particular, size differences can lead to differences in relative factor rewards and scale-adjusted relative commodity prices.

5.   It remains therefore to consider relative commodity prices and relative factor rewards.

6.   The fall in commodity prices means that Third World countries must produce more to earn the same amount.

7.   Then came low commodity prices, scab disease, excessive moisture and crop-robbing hailstorms.

8.   Commodity prices fell sharply.

9.   The generally depressed commodity prices did not, however, markedly affect export earnings.