Natural Resources and Undernourishment in Developing Countries? Is There a Curse?

Henri Njangang (), Sosson Tadadjeu () and Joseph Keneck-Massil ()
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Henri Njangang: University of Dschang
Sosson Tadadjeu: University of Dschang
Joseph Keneck-Massil: University of Yaounde II

Environmental & Resource Economics, 2024, vol. 87, issue 7, No 8, 1887-1921

Abstract: Abstract Food security is a crucial issue for developing countries, with many populations suffering from undernourishment. While numerous factors contribute to this issue, the role of natural resources has been neglected. This paper, therefore, examines for the first time how natural resource dependence affects the prevalence of undernourishment in developing countries. Accounting for the effects of total rents and point resources, the results show that natural resource dependence explains the prevalence of undernourishment (including stunting and low birth weight) ceteris paribus. Appraising the natural resources-undernourishment nexus by geographical location suggests that the effect is more pronounced in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and low- and lower-middle-income countries. Among the mechanisms to explain this result, we identify control of corruption, democracy, internal conflicts, income inequality, and agricultural investments as potential transmission channels through which natural resources influence undernourishment.

Keywords: Natural Resources; Undernourishment; Developing Countries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I15 O11 Q30 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s10640-024-00877-8

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