Final answer:
It is true that during a famine, people are better off with access to indirect entitlements, as these allow for securing food through exchange rather than production. Macroeconomic policies play a significant role in mitigating starvation and ensuring food distribution.
Step-by-step explanation:
During a famine, it is indeed true that people are better off if they have access to indirect entitlements. Indirect entitlements could include having a job or assets that can be exchanged for food, allowing individuals to secure food through means other than direct production. The concept, as noted by Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen, highlights the importance of macroeconomic policies that strive toward stable inflation, full employment, education of women, and preservation of property rights. These policies can help eliminate starvation and provide for a more even distribution of food, especially during times of food shortages or famine.