Simple,
1) to prevent people from starving
2) to prevent food price inflation
Rationing was used by the UK in both WW's. This was as a lot of food was imported. If there was no rationing then the rich would by up food, stockpile it and prices would increase. The poor could be priced out of a market and as a result starve. With the UK if this were allowed, it would be more profitable for a ship to bring in a 'luxury' food for the rich rather than a bulk food that would be in the nation's interests.
Therefore rationing prevents people buying more than they needed, and gave the government control over what foods were being bought, keeping it to bare essentials (famously no bananas were imported for several years) which frees up more shipping space for war materials.the c · 8 years ago
