>The article cited a cafeteria lunch for 50 cents.
>And farmers are the most subsidized group of any first-world countries.
>
>I've read that gas in China is about 40 cents per litre.
>
>To me that says that the prices of food/gas/transport are not the same all over the world.
>
>cheers

Sure it could be if they didn't collect excise on gazoline, but may be these prices are befor oil price jump :-)

It depend on lunch.
For me lunch is good stake with some salad + beer, etc. ;-)
for my wife this is 200 gr rise with vegetables - may be with cheap labor this could cost $0.50