Food insecurity and social protection in Europe: quasi-natural experiment of Europe's great recessions 2004–2012

摘要: Food insecurity rose sharply in Europe after 2009, but marked variation exists across countries and over time. We test whether social protection programs protected people from food arising economic hardship Europe. Data on household covering 21 EU 2004 to 2012 were taken Eurostat 2015 edition the Organisation for Economic Cooperation Development. Cross-national first difference models used evaluate how rising unemployment declining wages related changes prevalence of role expenditure modifying observed effects. was strongly associated with greater insecurity. Each 1 percentage point rise rates an estimated 0.29 (95% CI: 0.10 0.49). Similarly, each $1000 decreases annual average a 0.62 increase 0.27 0.97). Greater spending mitigated these risks. spent per capita reduced associations by 0.05 points − 0.10 − 0.0007) − 0.18 − 0.006), respectively. The effects became insignificant when more than $10,000 protection. Rising falling are strong statistical determinants increasing insecurity, at high levels protection, could be prevented.