Inequality in Food Consumption and Diet Diversity: Evidence from Turkey

Abstract

Hunger is one of the devastating problems in the world. More than eight hundred million people are undernourished. However, hunger is one part of the food security problem. In addition to the undernourished people, two billion people have also health problems due to overweight, and obesity. Therefore, the topic of food security needs to be discussed in the context of consumption distribution. This paper estimates food consumption inequality in Turkey. Using more than 150 thousand households’ monthly expenditures, it shows how food inequality changes throughout 2003-2017. In addition to food consumption inequality, we estimate diet diversity inequality and show the impact of income on it. Our study finds that food consumption inequality increased after the food crisis of 2007. Food consumption inequality is mostly intensified in rural areas. We do not find any differentiated effects of income, education, and employment. Rich households have a more diversified diet than poor households. However, diet diversity increased for all households, especially in the last five years. Income has a negative impact on diet diversity in rich households, positive impact in poor households. Therefore, income decreases diet diversity inequality. Our results show the importance of food distribution in the discussion of food security policies.