On the Choice and Impacts of Innovative International Food Assistance Instruments

8 Pages Posted: 10 Jul 2015 Last revised: 21 Jul 2015

See all articles by Erin Lentz

Erin Lentz

University of Texas at Austin - Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs

Christopher B. Barrett

Cornell University - Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management

Miguel Ignacio Gomez

Cornell University - Food Industry Management Program

Daniel G. Maxwell

Independent

Date Written: September 1, 2013

Abstract

The rise of new food assistance instruments, including local and regional procurement, cash, and vouchers, has surpassed increase in understanding of the tradeoffs among and impacts of these options relative to traditional food aid. Response choices rarely appear to result from systematic response analyses. Further, impacts along multiple dimensions — timeliness, cost-effectiveness, local market effects, recipient satisfaction, food quality, impact on smallholder suppliers, etc. — may be competing or synergistic. No single food assistance tool is always and everywhere preferable. A growing body of evidence, including the papers in this special section, nonetheless demonstrates the clear value-added of new food assistance instruments.

Keywords: disaster relief, emergency response, food insecurity, food assistance, response analysis

Suggested Citation

Lentz, Erin and Barrett, Christopher B. and Gomez, Miguel Ignacio and Maxwell, Daniel G., On the Choice and Impacts of Innovative International Food Assistance Instruments (September 1, 2013). World Development, 2013, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2628759

Erin Lentz

University of Texas at Austin - Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs ( email )

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Christopher B. Barrett (Contact Author)

Cornell University - Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management ( email )

315 Warren Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853-7801
United States
607-255-4489 (Phone)
607-255-9984 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://aem.cornell.edu/faculty_sites/cbb2/

Miguel Ignacio Gomez

Cornell University - Food Industry Management Program ( email )

Department of Applied Economics and Management
Ithaca, NY 14853
United States
607-255-8472 (Phone)
607-255-4776 (Fax)

Daniel G. Maxwell

Independent ( email )

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