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Diet quality rather than caloric intake associated with labour wages in Kenya

Author

Listed:
  • Estefanía Custodio

    (Instituto de Salud Carlos III
    Instituto de Salud Carlos III)

  • Sofía Jiménez

    (Universidad de Zaragoza
    Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón)

  • María Priscila Ramos

    (Universidad de Buenos Aires
    CONICET–Universidad de Buenos Aires)

  • Martina Sartori

    (European Commission)

  • Emanuele Ferrari

    (European Commission)

Abstract

Malnutrition, in all its forms, poses a significant threat to human development and economic growth. Consequently, enhancing food security and consumption is a moral and social imperative for fostering development. Despite the substantial evidence on the relationship between caloric intake and labour productivity, research on the connection between labour productivity and diet quality, measured by micronutrient intake, is scarce. This paper, focusing on Kenya, estimates the linkages between micronutrient intake and labour productivity, measured by household labour income. The daily intakes of energy and micronutrients per adult male equivalent at the household level is computed employing food consumption data collected in the 2015–2016 Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey. Econometric results show that daily micronutrient (haem iron, zinc, folate, calcium, vitamins B2 and A) intakes are significantly and positively correlated with labour productivity. The quality of diets, reflected by micronutrient intakes, has a bigger impact on labour productivity than the daily energy consumed, measured by caloric intake. This paper contributes to the nutrition–productivity literature and provides a basis for designing policies to improve the nutritional quality of diets.

Suggested Citation

  • Estefanía Custodio & Sofía Jiménez & María Priscila Ramos & Martina Sartori & Emanuele Ferrari, 2025. "Diet quality rather than caloric intake associated with labour wages in Kenya," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 17(2), pages 345-361, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:17:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s12571-025-01523-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-025-01523-x
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