SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY: A WEALTH QUANTILE ANALYSIS

Abstract

Food insecurity remains a major challenge in developing countries, where household access to adequate food is closely linked to socioeconomic conditions. This study examines the relationship between household wealth and food insecurity using data from the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey 2019-2020. Socioeconomic status is measured through an asset-based wealth index and classified into five wealth quintiles. A Logistic regression Model is employed to estimate the association between wealth and household food insecurity while controlling for geographic and demographic factors. The results reveal a clear and monotonic wealth gradient. Households in higher wealth quintiles are significantly less likely to experience food insecurity than those in the poorest group, and this pattern remains robust across all model specifications. The findings highlight the importance of long-term economic resources in shaping food security outcomes and suggest that policies aimed at strengthening household asset ownership and economic resilience are essential for reducing food insecurity.

Keywords: Food insecurity; Wealth quintiles; Socioeconomic status; Asset-based wealth index; Pakistan