Search for Articles on Google by:
Kassimou IssakaKarl Alla Houessou
Francis Oninkitan Agani
Jacob Afouda Yabi
Original Research Article
Economic growth and food security in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU)
Kassimou Issaka1,Karl Alla Houessou1,Francis Oninkitan Agani1* and Jacob Afouda Yabi1
1University of Parakou, Faculty of Agronomy, Laboratory for Analysis and Research on Economic and Social Dynamics (LARDES). BP 123 Parakou (Benin).
Kassimou Issaka |
Karl Alla Houessou |
Francis Oninkitan Agani |
Jacob Afouda Yabi |
Article Number: IJAPR.25.003 | Pages: 15-24 | Vol.13 (1), January-February | DOI: https://doi.org/10.15739/IJAPR.25.003
Received: November 26, 2024 Accepted: January 26, 2025 Published: February 6, 2025
Abstract
This study examines the causal relationship between economic growth and food security across the eight member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). The analysis employs panel data and the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) approach. Data from the FAO-World Bank database (WDI, 2018) spanning 2001-2016 were used, excluding the private for-profit sector due to limited coverage. Findings reveal that economic growth may worsen food insecurity, indicating that growth alone cannot solve food insecurity if economic inequalities persist. Research and development (R&D) expenditure significantly reduces undernourishment, whereas access to electricity for rural populations has a positive impact on undernourishment at a 5% significance level. Agricultural development flow is significant at 10%, and gross agricultural fixed capital formation at 5%. The study also highlights the long-term geographic expansion of food insecurity, underscoring that the current economic growth levels are insufficient to ensure food security across WAEMU.
Keywords: Economic growth, food security, WAEMU, West Africa
How to Cite this Article
Issaka K, Houessou KA, Agani FO Yabi JA (2025).Economic growth and food security in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). Int. J. Agric. Pol. Res. 13(1):15-24. DOI:https://doi.org/10.15739/IJAPR.25.003
© 2025 The authors.
This is an Open Access article that is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) and the Budapest Open Access Initiative (http://www.budapestopenaccessinitiative.org/read), which allow unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited.