Why some countries cope with food-system shocks better than others

What is it about?

Why do severe shocks lead to worsening food insecurity in some countries but not others? Using data from all over the world, we examine what makes some countries’ food systems more capable of withstanding shocks, and provide empirical evidence on the factors that build resilience and can weaken the relationship often observed between shocks and hunger.

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Photo by ‪Salah Darwish on Unsplash

Photo by ‪Salah Darwish on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Our work provides one of the first global analyses of what makes countries more resilient to disasters, wars and political crises, helping prevent these shocks from translating into greater hunger. Our findings show that resilience is not just determined by how developed a country is: effective government, diversified food supply routes and stronger social capital are all associated with food systems that cope better with shocks.