Does Higher Economic Complexity Reduce Food Insecurity? Evidence from Africa

Abstract: In recent years, Economic Complexity emerged as an alternative measure of economic progress in a country. The Economic Complexity Index (ECI) aims to assess the level of production sophistication of a nation across time. This study focuses on assessing the effects of economic complexity on food security, employing a panel dataset consisting of 29 African countries observed between 2001 and 2020. We find evidence that greater economic complexity is often associated with the deterioration of food security.

Keywords: Economic Complexity, Food Security, Africa