An empirical examination of trade policy and food security in MENA countries: evidence from quantile regressions

Malnutrition and food insecurity have immediate negative impacts on the health and well-being of individuals, as well as long-term indirect effects on human capital development and productivity. Despite significant progress in agriculture in recent years, food insecurity remains a persistent issue, particularly in developing countries. The United Nations has set a goal to eradicate all forms of malnutrition and food insecurity by 2030. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, this goal has become more challenging than ever. This study aimed to examine the impact of trade openness on food security in selected countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, while controlling for other relevant factors. Data from 2001 to 2020 was analysed using panel ordinary least squares (POLS) and panel quantile regression (PQR) methods. POLS results indicate that trade openness has a positive and statistically significant impact on food security in the MENA region, and these results are robust to PQR with a gradual decrease in magnitude at higher quantiles. These findings indicate that trade openness can yield significant benefits in promoting food security in the region, which holds several policy implications that are discussed in the paper.