Comparative Analysis of Rural Household Food Spending in Two Regions

Thesis Abstract

This study investigates how rural households allocate expenditures to food in two economically comparable regions, addressing the problem of incompletely understood inter-regional differences in diet quality, food security indicators, and household welfare. The aim is to quantify and explain variations in monthly food spending, dietary diversity, and coping strategies, contributing to evidence-based rural livelihoods policy. Specific objectives are to (i) compare the share of household expenditure devoted to food between the two regions, (ii) assess how food spending relates to dietary diversity and nutritional adequacy, (iii) identify compositional differences in food categories purchased, (iv) examine the influence of socio-economic factors (income, household size, education, asset ownership) on food expenditure and consumption patterns, and (v) evaluate the role of market access and price volatility on cross-regional differences using a theoretical framework integrating the Engel’s Law and the Adopted Theory of Consumer Demand under Constraints. The study adopts a cross-sectional survey design, drawing on a representative sample of 800 rural households from Region A and Region B, selected through multi-stage stratified sampling to capture variations in agro-ecology, market proximity, and household demographics. Data collection relied on structured interviewer-administered questionnaires supplemented by 14-day meal recall diaries and price data from local markets. The questionnaire captured household demographics, income sources, asset ownership, food purchase quantities and expenditures, and indicators of dietary diversity such as the Food Variety Score and Household Dietary Diversity Score. Market prices and availability of staple and non-staple foods were recorded to construct real nutrient-cost indices. Validity and reliability of instruments were ensured through pre-testing, back-translation for linguistic accuracy, and a pilot with 5 percent of the sample, with Cronbach’s alpha for multi-item scales exceeding 0.78. Analytical approaches include descriptive statistics to profile expenditure shares and dietary diversity, and inferential analyses using multivariate regression to determine determinants of total food expenditure and per-capita food spending, with robust standard errors to address heteroskedasticity. ANOVA and post-hoc tests will compare regional means of key variables. A two-stage least squares regression will address potential endogeneity between income and food expenditure, using instrumental variables such as land under cultiva­tion and receipt of non-farm income. A multinomial logit model will analyze category-specific food spending (staples, cereals, vegetables, animal-source foods, and processed foods) and dietary diversity outcomes. The study will integrate Engel’s Law to interpret expenditure elasticities against biological and household welfare indicators and apply the Theory of Consumer Demand under Constraints to account for price and accessibility constraints. Where relevant, thematic content analysis will be applied to open-ended responses on coping strategies and perceived price volatility to complement quantitative findings. Expected findings include (i) a higher food expenditure share in Region B, driven by lower incomes and greater reliance on purchased foods, (ii) positive associations between food spending and dietary diversity up to a threshold, followed by diminishing returns in low-income households, (iii) significant regional differences in the composition of food baskets, with greater animal-source and processed foods in Region A where markets are more accessible, and (iv) price volatility and market access emerging as critical mediators of expenditure–nutrition relationships. The study is expected to identify policy-relevant determinants of food security, including market integration, social protection coverage, and targeted agricultural support programs that can mitigate regional disparities. The contribution to knowledge lies in delivering robust cross-regional evidence on how rural households allocate resources to food, linking expenditure patterns to nutrition outcomes and market dynamics within a formal econometric framework. It informs policy on targeting subsidies, price stabilization mechanisms, and infrastructural investments to reduce regional differentials in food security and welfare. The main conclusion is that differential food spending patterns reflect a combination of income constraints, market access, and price dynamics, necessitating region-specific policy mixes. Recommendations include improving market accessibility in Region B, expanding social protection for low-income households, and enhancing price monitoring systems to cushion households from volatility, thereby supporting healthier dietary outcomes across both regions.