A Spatial Panel Analysis of Food Security and Political Risk in Asian Countries

AbstractFood security and its determinants are being targeted at various levels, i.e., individual, household, national, and regional levels. Our study contributes by two ways. First, it explores the role of political risk indicators along with other important factors in the food security of 35 Asian countries. Second, spatial effects are also considered while determining the factors affecting food security at the regional level. Spatial panel models are estimated using panel data of 35 countries ranging from 2000 to 2018. The significance of spatial effects is established by employing various diagnostic tests, and hence, direct effects and spatial effects are estimated using Spatial Durbin Model to analyze the phenomenon. Empirical results of the study show that rising political risk indicators as well as environmental degradation adversely affect the food security of the country. These adverse effects expand spatially to neighboring countries of the given affected country. Hence, the goal of food security urges UNO to devise an effective strategy to decrease the political risk, improve institutional quality, settle external and internal conflicts, and create religious and ethnic harmony in the affected countries of Asia. These efforts may focus on food security, health, education, and economic development at the regional level. Moreover, clean and sustainable environment must be part of all efforts to achieve food security at the global level. Spatial effects of environmenta...
Source: Social Indicators Research - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research