Can food availability influence economic growth - the case of African countries

Abstract

Th ere is a growing consensus that food security is vital to the general wellbeing of any economy, but a far less consensus on whether food security can spur economic growth in a country. Many economic growth strategies focus on specifi c interventions (trade openness index, tropical climatic variables, working age population share etc.), but many factors, such as food availability, female education and health outcomes, can potentially have a profound infl uence on economic growth. To explore this hypothesis more systematically, this paper employs a rich cross-country dataset of 124 countries to examine the impact of food security, using food availability as a proxy on economic growth. Th is paper examines the impact of food shortages on African economic growth rates. It does so by extending the Barro growth model to include food availability as a right hand-side variable and by distinguishing African countries with food shortages from others. Based on the cross-country regressions results, the paper concludes that the improved food availability indeed contributes to the improved economic growth in general, as well as in Africa.

Spatio-Temporal Differences in Economic Security of the Prefecture-Level Cities in Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Region of China: Based on a Triple-Dimension Analytical Framework of Economic Geography

“…According to the theory of the man–land relationship in geography, the natural environment is the material source of human survival and development, and it affects the development of social and economic activities through the social production mode [ 35 ]. The fragility of the environment limits the development intensity of regional resources and severely restricts the development of agricultural production activities, such as grain production [ 36 ], extractive industries, and other production activities, and consequently, economic growth [ 37 ]. In the face of major natural disasters and external shocks, economic development tends to stagnate and decline.…”

Feasibility Study of the Food-sharing Model in the Context of Sustainable Economic Development

“…Agboola et al use several econometric models to analyse the relationship between economic growth in Africa and food supply and food security by studying the growth of GDP in some African regions and their annual total food output. Most importantly, the correlation curve was obtained and concluded that if these countries can achieve food security, then economic growth will be much easier to attain [1]. Ching-Hsu et al collected the data from various countries and regions to make a comparison, including the statistics on the proportion of food wasted around the world and the cost caused by food waste [2].…”

“…Some factors relating to food such as food supply, food security, and food waste were rarely linked to the economic growth, Agboola, M. O and Balcilar, M in Eastern Mediterranean University used the classical Solow model to study the impact of food security, food supply and other factors on economic growth in some African countries. Finally, they concluded that improving the food supply contributes to economic growth improvement [1]. Significantly, the idea of this paper is inspired by the research of these two scholars.…”

Does financial and agriculture sector development reduce unemployment rates? Evidence from Southern African countries

“…Although there is general agreement that food security is key to the stability of any economy, and that agriculture can be an important factor in releasing growth miracles, the extent to which agricultural value can aid the economic growth of a nation has not yet been established (Agboola and Bacilar 2014).…”