Redesigning the global food security index: a multivariate composite i-distance indicator approach

Abstract

The topic of food security has gained significant attention and importance due to its impact on political, economic, and humanitarian decisions governments make. Although composite indexes that measure food security have proliferated in the last decade, many questions regarding their methodologies remain unanswered. Among several composite indexes that aim to measure food security, the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) stands out for its solid methodology and reliable data sources. However, its weighting scheme can be categorized as biased. This paper attempts to overcome the issue of subjectively assigned weights to indicators and categories within the GFSI. Namely, we propose a statistical methodology, the Composite I-distance Indicator (CIDI), which is based on the I-distance method, for obtaining an unbiased weighting scheme. Our approach can serve as a foundation for future research on weighting schemes, which are enveloped with subjectivity.