Economic Journal of Emerging Markets
Volume 17 Issue 2, 2025

Non-cash food assistance and household food security: Evidence from remote Indonesia

Anggara, Rizki Tri (Unknown)
Alfahma, Elsya Gumayanti (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
28 Oct 2025

Abstract

Purpose ― This study aims to evaluate the impact of Indonesia’s Non-Cash Food Assistance Program (BPNT) on household consumption and food security in Sabu Raijua, a remote region in Indonesia with limited food access.Methods ― The Propensity Score Matching (PSM) with kernel techniques is employed to estimate the BPNT program’s effects on household expenditure, caloric intake, and food insecurity using data from 536 households in Sabu Raijua, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.Findings ― The results indicate that the BPNT program had a limited effect on household spending, nutrition, and food security. Beneficiary households spent slightly more on food and non-food items, showed minor improvements in nutritional intake, and were less likely to face food shortages, though concerns about food adequacy persisted.Implications ― The findings suggest that while BPNT helps alleviate food insecurity, further improvements in program implementation are needed to enhance its overall impact on household welfare.Originality ― This research provides critical insights into the effectiveness of BPNT in a remote region with unique socioeconomic challenges that have not been subject to empirical study, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for improving non-cash food assistance programs in similar contexts.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

JEP

Publisher

Subject

Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

The Economic Journal of Emerging Markets (EJEM) is a peer-reviewed journal which provides a forum for scientific works pertaining to emerging market economies. Published every April and October, this journal welcomes original research papers on all aspects of economic development issues. The journal ...