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МОНГОЛЫН ХҮН АМЫН СЭТГҮҮЛ Дугаар (367) 20, 2011
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NUTRIENT CONSUMPTION AND POVERTY IN MONGOLIA
Amartuvshin Tserennadmid, MA in Economics
Statistician and Economist, National Statistical Office of Mongolia
Abstract
Using data from the Household Socio-Economic Survey 2007-08, this study investigates the
relationship between nutrient consumption and poverty inMongolia. The nutrient consumption, I use here,
is defined in terms of energy (calorie) and other macro nutrients such as fat, protein and carbohydrates.
The results show that the difference between nutrient consumption between the poor and for the non-poor
was quite large and statistically significant. The adequacy ratio, one of food security indicators, reveals
that poor households are below the benchmark level of all nutrients except animal fat. And it can imply
that deficiencies in nutrients are a problematic issue only for poor households while all the population is
facing a problem with excess of appropriate intake for animal fat. The findings of the study also suggest
that serious attention is needed to diversify the food diet of the poor.
To conclude, the best way to fight the food security problem in the country could be the combination of
policies that increase household incomes and that provide information on how to obtain a balanced and
healthy diet.
KEYWORDS: HSES, Nutrient consumption, energy, fat, protein, carbohydrates, adequacy ratio
INTRODUCTION
Nutrient and calorie consumption can
play a significant role in the definition of
welfare concepts such as health and labor
productivity
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. Economic analysis of nutrient
consumption might offer invaluable input in
the design of better development policies.
There is an intimate connection between
poverty
and
malnutrition,
especially
in developing countries. It is difficult
for individuals who are poor to acquire
adequate levels of food and thus of nutrient
consumption for themselves and their families
(Development economics, Debraj Ray).
The percentage of the population that is poor
in Mongolia has been around 35 per cent
in the last decade and the analysis of the
determinants of poverty and its relationship
to food security and nutritional outcomes
have become an important issue and area of
research. Moreover, the relationship of nutrient
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See Stigliz (1976) for a detailed discussion of the efficiency
wage hypothesis, which provides the theoretical framework for
understanding the link between productivity and calorie intake.
consumption and poverty in Mongolia has
not been investigated even though the Living
Standard Measurement Surveys and National
Nutrition Surveys have been separately
conducted.
In 2009, the government of Mongolia
announced the National Food Security
Program. The initial task of the program is to
describe the pattern of food consumption and
food security indicators in order to implement
policies successfully.
Keeping in mind these motivations, the
principal aim of this study is to assess the
current nutritional status of population (or the
food security aspect) and its relationship with
poverty in Mongolia. This paper will examine
the food security indicators and nutrient
consumption patterns of the population by
poverty status.
The first step will be the analysis of food
security in Mongolia as well as nutrient
consumption using well-accepted indicators
of food security. Given that poverty and