Implications of Socioeconomic Factors on Food Security in Selected Economies: An Empirical Assessment

Abstract

The present study creates global food security index (GFSI) using Composite Z-Index method for 31 country. Thereafter, it assess the influence of socio-economic variables on per capita depth of food-deficit (PCDFD) using linear, log-linear and non-linear regression models. It shows that high income countries are food secure due to high cereal productivity, per capita land under cereal and food-grain production. Low and lower income countries are more food insecure and there is desirable to increase the cereal and food-grain production to achieve food security in these countries. It argues that rapid population growth, cereal imports dependency ratio, food production variability, high food prices and poverty are significant reasons to increase food insecurity in most countries. It suggests that poverty eradication policies, food-grain price stability, irrigation facilities, infrastructural development, creation of employment opportunities in non-agriculture sector and adoption of modern technology would be useful to sustain food security at global level.