Food insecurity, environment, institutional quality, and health outcomes: evidence from South Asia
Abstract Background Food insecurity and environmental degradation pose significant threats to health outcomes in South Asia, necessitating effective policy interventions. Therefore, this study aims to examine the impact of food insecurity and environmental degradation on health outcome indicators am...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Globalization and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-024-01022-2 |
| _version_ | 1797266594108276736 |
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| author | Mohammad Naim Azimi Mohammad Mafizur Rahman |
| author_facet | Mohammad Naim Azimi Mohammad Mafizur Rahman |
| author_sort | Mohammad Naim Azimi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Food insecurity and environmental degradation pose significant threats to health outcomes in South Asia, necessitating effective policy interventions. Therefore, this study aims to examine the impact of food insecurity and environmental degradation on health outcome indicators amidst global inflationary shocks and institutional quality arrangements. Additionally, it aims to explore the intricate moderating role of institutional quality on the relationship between food insecurity, endogenous variables, and external shocks. Method In alignment with the study’s objectives, a set of panel data spanning from 2000 to 2021 is compiled for South Asia. The study introduces a novel variable representing inflationary shock, crafted through the integration of inflation datapoints and the application of the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model. Additionally, a distinctive aggregate institutional quality index is formulated, drawing from six key measures of the Worldwide Governance indicators. To scrutinize the effects of food insecurity, environmental degradation, and other explanatory variables, the study employs the two-step system generalized method of moment technique, offering a robust analytical approach to uncover complex relationships and dynamics in the region. Results The results indicate that the prevalence of undernourishment, inequality in per capita calorie intake, and CO2 emissions significantly reduce life expectancy and increase mortality rates. Additionally, it shows that per capita kilocalorie supply, per capita GDP, per capita health expenditures, and urbanization are statistically significant for increasing life expectancy and decreasing mortality rates. The findings reveal that inflationary shocks severely affect food insecurity and environmental factors, exerting further pressure on contemporary life expectancy and mortality rates. In rebuttal, the institutional quality index is found to have significant effects on increasing and decreasing life expectancy and mortality rates, respectively. Furthermore, the institutional quality index is effective in moderating the nexus between food insecurity, environmental degradation, and health outcomes while also neutralizing the negative impact of inflationary shocks on the subject. Conclusion The results verify triple health constraints such as food insecurity, environmental factors, and economic vulnerability to global shocks, which impose severe effects on life expectancy and mortality rates. Furthermore, poor institutional quality is identified as a hindrance to health outcomes in South Asia. The findings suggest specific policy implications that are explicitly discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:03:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d1819c6d3b3c4478ab086a5eee41f959 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1744-8603 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:03:10Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Globalization and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d1819c6d3b3c4478ab086a5eee41f9592024-03-10T12:24:20ZengBMCGlobalization and Health1744-86032024-03-0120112110.1186/s12992-024-01022-2Food insecurity, environment, institutional quality, and health outcomes: evidence from South AsiaMohammad Naim Azimi0Mohammad Mafizur Rahman1School of Business, University of Southern QueenslandSchool of Business, University of Southern QueenslandAbstract Background Food insecurity and environmental degradation pose significant threats to health outcomes in South Asia, necessitating effective policy interventions. Therefore, this study aims to examine the impact of food insecurity and environmental degradation on health outcome indicators amidst global inflationary shocks and institutional quality arrangements. Additionally, it aims to explore the intricate moderating role of institutional quality on the relationship between food insecurity, endogenous variables, and external shocks. Method In alignment with the study’s objectives, a set of panel data spanning from 2000 to 2021 is compiled for South Asia. The study introduces a novel variable representing inflationary shock, crafted through the integration of inflation datapoints and the application of the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model. Additionally, a distinctive aggregate institutional quality index is formulated, drawing from six key measures of the Worldwide Governance indicators. To scrutinize the effects of food insecurity, environmental degradation, and other explanatory variables, the study employs the two-step system generalized method of moment technique, offering a robust analytical approach to uncover complex relationships and dynamics in the region. Results The results indicate that the prevalence of undernourishment, inequality in per capita calorie intake, and CO2 emissions significantly reduce life expectancy and increase mortality rates. Additionally, it shows that per capita kilocalorie supply, per capita GDP, per capita health expenditures, and urbanization are statistically significant for increasing life expectancy and decreasing mortality rates. The findings reveal that inflationary shocks severely affect food insecurity and environmental factors, exerting further pressure on contemporary life expectancy and mortality rates. In rebuttal, the institutional quality index is found to have significant effects on increasing and decreasing life expectancy and mortality rates, respectively. Furthermore, the institutional quality index is effective in moderating the nexus between food insecurity, environmental degradation, and health outcomes while also neutralizing the negative impact of inflationary shocks on the subject. Conclusion The results verify triple health constraints such as food insecurity, environmental factors, and economic vulnerability to global shocks, which impose severe effects on life expectancy and mortality rates. Furthermore, poor institutional quality is identified as a hindrance to health outcomes in South Asia. The findings suggest specific policy implications that are explicitly discussed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-024-01022-2Food insecurityHealth outcomesLife expectancyMortality ratesInflationary shocks |
| spellingShingle | Mohammad Naim Azimi Mohammad Mafizur Rahman Food insecurity, environment, institutional quality, and health outcomes: evidence from South Asia Globalization and Health Food insecurity Health outcomes Life expectancy Mortality rates Inflationary shocks |
| title | Food insecurity, environment, institutional quality, and health outcomes: evidence from South Asia |
| title_full | Food insecurity, environment, institutional quality, and health outcomes: evidence from South Asia |
| title_fullStr | Food insecurity, environment, institutional quality, and health outcomes: evidence from South Asia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food insecurity, environment, institutional quality, and health outcomes: evidence from South Asia |
| title_short | Food insecurity, environment, institutional quality, and health outcomes: evidence from South Asia |
| title_sort | food insecurity environment institutional quality and health outcomes evidence from south asia |
| topic | Food insecurity Health outcomes Life expectancy Mortality rates Inflationary shocks |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-024-01022-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mohammadnaimazimi foodinsecurityenvironmentinstitutionalqualityandhealthoutcomesevidencefromsouthasia AT mohammadmafizurrahman foodinsecurityenvironmentinstitutionalqualityandhealthoutcomesevidencefromsouthasia |