Ethnic Diversity and Food Insecurity: Evidence from Ghana

We examine the link between ethnic diversity and food insecurity. Using data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey, we measure food insecurity using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale and measure ethnic diversity at the district level using information from the Ghana Population and Housing Census. After addressing endogeneity, we find that an increase in ethnic diversity is associated with an increase in food insecurity. This result is robust to different approaches to addressing endogeneity, different measures of ethnic diversity and alternative ways of conceptualising food insecurity. Our findings further show that trust, threat of criminal violence and threat of war/conflict are important channels through which ethnic diversity influences food insecurity.

本研究探讨族群多样性与粮食不安全之间的关联。本研究借助加纳生活水平调查（Ghana Living Standards Survey）的数据，以粮食不安全体验量表（Food Insecurity Experience Scale）衡量粮食不安全水平，并利用加纳人口与住房普查（Ghana Population and Housing Census）的信息测度区级层面的族群多样性。在处理内生性问题后，本研究发现族群多样性的提升与粮食不安全程度的加剧呈显著相关关系。该结果在不同内生性处理方法、不同族群多样性测度指标以及粮食不安全的不同概念化方式下均保持稳健。研究进一步揭示，信任水平、刑事暴力威胁以及战争/冲突威胁是族群多样性影响粮食不安全的重要传导路径。