Growth–food Security Nexus: Evidence From the West African Economic and Monetary Union

This study examines the causal relationship between economic growth and food security across the eight member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). The analysis employs panel data and the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) approach. Data from the FAO-World Bank database (WDI, 2018) spanning 2001-2016 were used, excluding the private for-profit sector due to limited coverage. Findings reveal that economic growth may worsen food insecurity, indicating that growth alone cannot solve food insecurity if economic inequalities persist. Research and development (R&D) expenditure significantly reduces undernourishment, whereas access to electricity for rural populations has a positive impact on undernourishment at a 5% significance level. Agricultural development flow is significant at 10%, and gross agricultural fixed capital formation at 5%. The study also highlights the long-term geographic expansion of food insecurity, underscoring that the current economic growth levels are insufficient to ensure food security across WAEMU.