The impact of energy security on food security: A spatial econometric approach

Authors
Shadi Alizadeh 1
marjan damankeshideh
parvaneh salatin 2
Fatemeh Zandi 3
Shahriar Nasabian 4
1 Department of Economics, Tehran markazi Branch, Islamic Azad University, tehran, Iran.
2 Islamic Azad University
3 South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University,
4 Tehran markazi Branch, Islamic Azad University
Abstract
Food security, as an indicator of macroeconomic stability, is the fundamental foundation of countries' economic security and one of the most important prerequisites for sustainable development.

On the other hand, food production and distribution are energy-intensive, and energy is essential for achieving food security.

In this regard, the main objective of this study is to examine the impact of energy security on food security in a selected group of Middle Eastern countries. The results using spatial econometrics in the period 2000-2023 showed that access to electricity as an indicator of energy security has a positive and significant impact on food security in the selected group of Middle Eastern countries. With a one percent increase in access to electricity, on average, assuming other conditions are constant, food security increased by 0.1384 units in the selected group of Middle Eastern countries. The direct and indirect effects of energy are also positive, meaning that increased access to electricity has not only improved food security in the selected group of Middle Eastern countries, but its spillover effects have also moderately improved food security in neighboring countries.
Keywords
energy security
Food security
spatial econometric approach
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