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The impact of maize price shocks on household food security: Panel evidence from Tanzania

Robert Rudolf

Food Policy, 2019, vol. 85, issue C, 40-54

Abstract: Using three waves (2008/09, 2010/11, 2012/13) of the Tanzanian National Panel Survey, this study investigates the impact of maize price shocks on household food security. Between 2008/09 and 2012/13, calorie intake stagnated for urban households, yet sharply deteriorated for rural households. The latter was driven by a significant decline in the consumption of the major staple maize which showed strongest price hikes among all major food items. Fixed-effects regressions indicate a clear negative relationship between maize prices and average household energy intake. Almost all population groups were found to be negatively affected by maize price shocks, with rural landless households being the most vulnerable group. In particular, a 50 percent rise in maize prices decreases caloric intake for rural (urban) households on average by 4.4 (5.4) percent, and for rural landless households by 12.6 percent. Results further indicate that subsistence agriculture can act as an effective strategy to insure against food price volatility.

Keywords: Food price shock; Food security; Subsistence agriculture; Maize; Panel data; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D12 O55 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:85:y:2019:i:c:p:40-54

DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2019.04.005

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