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Financial Capability and Food Security in Extremely Vulnerable Households
Author(s) -
Millimet Daniel L,
McDonough Ian K,
Fomby Thomas B
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
american journal of agricultural economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.949
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1467-8276
pISSN - 0002-9092
DOI - 10.1093/ajae/aay029
Subject(s) - food security , poverty , food insecurity , financial security , salient , business , economics , economic growth , finance , agriculture , geography , archaeology
Food insecurity is among the most significant, nutrition‐related public health issues facing the United States. Unfortunately, little is known about the determinants of food insecurity except that it is not synonymous with poverty. Many households above the poverty line are food insecure; many below are not. We investigate a lack of financial capability as a potential salient determinant of household‐level food security. Using original survey data collected among food pantry clients in North Texas, we assess the impact of financial capacity on food security relying on family background as an exclusion restriction. Our results indicate a strikingly significant effect, both economically and statistically, of financial capability in general and financial behaviors in particular.