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How Inequality and Repression Affect the Link Between Food Insecurity and Urban Social Disorder

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  • Murshed Syed Mansoob

    (ISS, Erasmus University, Den Haag, The Netherlands)

  • Gates Scott

    (University of Oslo and Peace Research Institute (PRIO), Oslo, Norway)

  • Hasan Rashel

    (Bangladesh Bank, Dhaka, Bangladesh)

  • Badiuzzaman Muhammad

    (ISS, Erasmus University, Den Haag, The Netherlands)

Abstract

We examine the relationship between food insecurity and urban social disorder, featuring the degree of inequality and levels of governmental repression. We develop a formal theoretical model, and our empirical results suggest that food price volatility contributes significantly to conflict events as measured by the PRIO Urban Social Disorder data. We measure vertical inequality using the V-DEM egalitarian index, which is negatively significant; greater inequality sparks unrest. Inter-group horizontal inequality is also statistically significantly related to the risk of food riots. Government transfers are weakly associated with reducing conflict incidence. Governmental repression, in contrast, is associated with food riots across our estimations.

Suggested Citation

  • Murshed Syed Mansoob & Gates Scott & Hasan Rashel & Badiuzzaman Muhammad, 2025. "How Inequality and Repression Affect the Link Between Food Insecurity and Urban Social Disorder," Peace Economics, Peace Science, and Public Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 31(2), pages 229-257.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:pepspp:v:31:y:2025:i:2:p:229-257:n:1003
    DOI: 10.1515/peps-2024-0059
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Luke Abbs, 2020. "The hunger games: Food prices, ethnic cleavages and nonviolent unrest in Africa," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 57(2), pages 281-296, March.
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    6. Davide Natalini & Aled Wynne Jones & Giangiacomo Bravo, 2015. "Quantitative Assessment of Political Fragility Indices and Food Prices as Indicators of Food Riots in Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-26, April.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • I - Health, Education, and Welfare

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