The economics and nutritional impacts of food assistance policies and programs

Lentz, E.C. and Barrett, C.B. (2013) The economics and nutritional impacts of food assistance policies and programs. Food Policy, 42. pp. 151-163.

[img] PDF - Published Version
Restricted to ICRISAT researchers only

Abstract

Recent evidence on malnutrition and poverty raise important questions on the role of food assistance policies and programs. In this review article, we examine evidence on the economic and nutritional impacts of international food assistance programs (FAPs) and policies. The returns on investments in FAPs are, on average, high but depend considerably on the targeting and cost structures as well as on food quality and role of complementary activities. We disaggregate findings into four classes of recipients. Returns to FAPs are highest for children under two. But, FAPs oriented towards early childhood interventions are less well funded than are interventions aimed at school-age children or at the broader, largely adult population even though available evidence indicates that these latter classes of interventions offer considerably lower average returns in economic, health, and nutrition terms. Nonetheless, FAP effectiveness in achieving any of several objectives varies with a range of key factors, including targeting, additionality, seasonality, timeliness, incentive effects, social acceptability and political economy considerations.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: The Food and Agricultural Organization funded our research.
Uncontrolled Keywords: International food assistance; Food aid; Food insecurity
Author Affiliation: Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-7801, USA
Subjects: Social Sciences > Agricultural Economics
Divisions: General
Depositing User: Mr Siva Shankar
Date Deposited: 18 Sep 2013 03:43
Last Modified: 18 Sep 2013 03:43
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2013.06.011
URI: http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/11737

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
EPrints Logo
eprints is powered by EPrints 3 which is developed by the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. More information and software credits.