Date of Award

3-2023

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Organizational Unit

Josef Korbel School of International Studies

First Advisor

Singumbe Muyeba

Second Advisor

Aaron Schneider

Third Advisor

Hanson Nyantakyi-Frimpong

Keywords

Depth of poverty, Famine, Intergenerational mobility, Poverty

Abstract

The famine has not ended yet. Though much has been done, famine is still visiting some parts of the globe, ravaging economies, taking lives, and compelling people to experience acute hunger, starvation, and associated diseases. Deadly famines have impacted parts of Asia and the Pacific at different times. China has experienced the most lethal famine in history in terms of severity and fatalities. Africa is still facing famine. There are many countries worldwide, across continents, whose population is still facing hunger and starvation on an alarming scale. Thus, famine is still relevant today.

The effects of famine have been the subject of much research, including long-term health, nutritional deficits and diseases, effects on adults who faced famine as children, and impacts on ensuing generations. However, little research has engaged the long-term economic impacts of past famines i.e., the extended impact of famine on intergenerational poverty and educational mobility. The present study bridges the gap and focuses on how past famines may fuel intergenerational poverty through intergenerational educational mobility.

The present research maintains two objectives at the center. The first objective is to explore the deeper connections between famine and degree poverty whether or not the past famines are still influencing the depth of poverty in the countries that experienced famine. The second objective is to explore whether famine events impact poverty outcomes and fuel intergenerational poverty. Using datasets from the University of Oxford, Tufts University, the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, the UNDP, and other reliable sources. This study argues that past famine events have significant influence in creating deeper poverty and reduce intergenerational mobility.

Available data suggest that Asian countries experienced nearly similar number of famines to African countries since 1801, though famine mortality and other consequences vary greatly. Among the three Asian continents that experienced famine, southeastern Asia can be considered as Asian famine hotspot. A total of 17 famines occurred in southeastern Asia. Eastern Asian countries have experienced nine famines since the 1860s. European countries experienced fewer famines, and the countries in the Americas experienced the least number of famines during the same period. No country in Asia is currently experiencing famine, like some countries in sub- Saharan Africa, but poverty and hunger are still notable.

This study generated correlation coefficients and regression analyses with famine, poverty, and intergenerational mobility variables. The correlation coefficients demonstrate that past famine variables are correlated with the present-day deepening poverty variables. The regression analysis demonstrates that the past famines have significant effects on the intergenerational mobility among many people in countries that experience famine.

Publication Statement

Copyright held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Monishankar Sarkar

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Format

application/pdf

Language

en

File Size

125 pgs

Discipline

Agriculture economics

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