The Effect of War on Food Security in MENA Countries, 1990-2014 (An Unbalanced Panel Data Approach)

Food security is a main component of physical, mental and psychological health of any society and is a criterion for human development. Food security and access to safe and adequate food is of the main pillars of economic growth and development; so it is of the main goals of every country. War and insecurity damage food security. War is the increased major cause of poverty, unemployment and food insecurity. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of war on food security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries in the period 1990-2014. In order to estimate the model for investigating the issue, the unbalanced panel data method was used. Results showed that war has the negative and significant impact on food security. Gross domestic product per capita, the size of the rural population, the ratio of arable land surface to total land surface and the use of agricultural machinery per hectare variables had positive and significant impact, and the size of the total population had negative and significant impact on food security. Thus, any attempt to reduce conflict means to improve food security and growth and development.