Theoretical approaches to the role of household income in ensuring food security

Abstract

This article reviews the theoretical and conceptual basis of the link between income of population and food security. The conceptual synthesis is illustrated by the use of global and national statistics for 2023-2025 from the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World reports, USDA Global Food Assessment, Global Food Security Index and national poverty-monitoring data for Uzbekistan. The evidence suggests that each approach captures a partial mechanism. Income expansion reduces food insecurity, but mainly where growth is broad-based and supported by institutional stability, price control and social protection. The example of Uzbekistan's poverty reduction from 11 percent in 2023 to 5.8 percent in 2025 shows that pro-poor income growth can activate a number of these theoretical mechanisms at the same time.