Econometric Theory Of Food Insecurity

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Theoretical Perspective and Related Studies
Several theories have been offered to summarize and explain the relationship between food insecurity and subjective evaluation of well-being. Based on the degree of empirical support, the econometric models and the risk and protective factor theory will be some of the theories that will be used in explaining the determinants of food insecurity and its association with psychological wellbeing of pregnant women.

The econometric model (Pearl, 2000) specifies the relationship that exists between the various economic quantities pertaining to a particular economic phenomenon such as the purchase of food. The econometric theory proffers that monthly spending by consumers is linearly dependent on their income …show more content…

Food insecurity has been found to be very high even in the United States where development is said to be at its peak. Hill, Molney, Mize, Himelick and Guest (2011) revealed that 8.9% of farmworkers in Georgia (United States) do not have enough food. A study by Furness, Simon, Word, and Asarian-Anderson (2004) assessed the determinants of food insecurity in the United States and the results indicated that household income was a major predictor of food insecurity. Hill et al. (2011) also found that lack of access to cooking facilities, low socioeconomic status, vulnerable position in society, and having children were risk factors of food insecurity among farm workers in Georgia in the United States of …show more content…

Most studies on the impact of food insecurity on wellbeing have mainly focused on children. For example, Reid (1999) assessed the influence of food insecurity on the wellbeing of children. Forty children between the ages of 16 and 42 months and their mothers, living in an Ethiopian rural village participated in the study. The findings indicated that household food insecurity was associated with lower birth weight and malnourishment.

A longitudinal study was conducted by Ke and Ford-Jones (2015) to assess the influence of food insecurity on the wellbeing of Canadian children. The results of the study indicated that food insecurity was associated with poor health and wellbeing among the children. There was also a significantly higher risk of depression and suicidal ideation among the participants with high food insecurity.
Similarly, Cook, et al. (2013) conducted a study on the influence of food insecurity on the health and wellbeing of young children in the United