This thesis studies the effects of the two main artificial means of boosting national food security: trade and aid. The author looks into the three pillars of food security (availability, access, utilization), three different dimensions of trade (gene...
This thesis studies the effects of the two main artificial means of boosting national food security: trade and aid. The author looks into the three pillars of food security (availability, access, utilization), three different dimensions of trade (general trade openness, tariffs on food, and non-tariff measures on foods), and three types of aid (agricultural aid, development food aid, and emergency food aid). It is found that trade and income level, rather than aid, have stronger implications for enhancing food security. While tariffs on food are gradually decreasing across countries, non-tariff measures have constantly increased in number in recent years as a form of trade restrictions on food imports. General trade openness has a short-term positive effect on food security but trade barriers on food display mixed results; tariffs seem to have a positive effect on food security but non-tariff measures are found to have long-lasting negative effects on food access. And albeit possible evidence for a limitedly positive long-term effect of agricultural aid on boosting food security, there is overwhelming indication that development food aid undermines food security of recipient countries in both the short and long run. Furthermore, emergency food aid can negatively affect food access despite positively affecting food availability.