Improving the Measurement of Food Security

32 Pages Posted: 5 Dec 2012

See all articles by Derek D. Headey

Derek D. Headey

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Olivier Ecker

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Date Written: November 2012

Abstract

Although food security measurement has been substantially expanded in recent decades, there persists significant dissatisfaction with existing measurement systems, especially in the wake of the global food and financial crisis. In this paper we first set out a list of criteria that an ideal food security measurement system should satisfy. We then benchmark existing indicators and measurement systems against those criteria as a means of systematically identifying their relative strengths and weaknesses. Our concluding section outlines possible steps for improving food security measurement through a mixture of extension, coordination, and innovation.

Keywords: food security, Nutrition security, food crises, food crisis, Shocks, climatic shocks, measurement, climatic shocks, economic growth

Suggested Citation

Headey, Derek D. and Ecker, Olivier, Improving the Measurement of Food Security (November 2012). IFPRI Discussion Paper No. 01225, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2185038 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2185038

Derek D. Headey (Contact Author)

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Olivier Ecker

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

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