Food insecurity, gender, and international migration in low- and middle-income countries

Michael D. Smith and Maria S. Floro

Food Policy, 2020, vol. 91, issue C

Abstract: The determinants of migration have been widely studied but research has rarely addressed the roles of food insecurity and gender in the migration decision process. To address these gaps, we examine these relationships for 135,078 individuals across 94 low- and middle-income countries. We use a series of binary-choice models with sample selection and data from the 2014–2015 waves of the Gallup World Poll Survey, which includes the first global measure of individual-level food insecurity. Results, which are robust, indicate that food insecurity is an important determinant of both migration intentions and preparations, and the probability of migration intentions increase monotonically with the severity of food insecurity, and the probability of migration preparations decrease. These relationships also differ significantly by gender and level of gross national income. Evidence suggests a need for increased coordination between the international food security and migration policy agendas.

Keywords: Food security; Food access; Experiential food security; Gender; Poverty; Emigration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J16 O12 O15 O57 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:91:y:2020:i:c:s030691922030021x

DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2020.101837

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