Do standard poverty metrics poorly reflect nutritional needs? A new method for utility-consistent and nutritionally adequate food poverty lines

In most countries and globally, malnutrition rates exceed poverty rates. Such a discrepancy begs the question: Do standard poverty metrics poorly reflect nutritional needs? The traditional methodology for measuring poverty in low- and middle-income countries estimates food baskets that satisfy a dietary energy standard while reflecting consumption patterns of poor households. However, poor households typically consume monotonous diets characterized by large quantities of calorically cheap staple foods that are poor sources of nutrients. The speakers will present an approach to estimate food poverty lines that satisfies the food group proportionality associated with healthy diet recommendations, its results using data from Myanmar and implications for inclusive economic growth strategies and nutrition-sensitive food policies and social protection. 

SPEAKERS:

Kristi Mahrt is a Senior Research Analyst in the Development Strategy and Governance Division at IFPRI. Her research focuses on poverty and household welfare with a strong emphasis on diets, gender, and the assessment of covariate shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable populations’ wellbeing. She holds a MA in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.   

Anna Herforth is the Co-Director of the Food Prices for Nutrition project. This project aims to use existing food price data to understand access to healthy diets, toward longstanding global goals of food security. She has collaborated with international organizations including with the World Bank, FAO, WHO and other UN institutions, CGIAR, and several bilateral government donors. She holds a Ph.D. in International Nutrition from Cornell University.  

Webcast