The impact of income growth on the nutritional structure of poverty-alleviated rural families: Empirical evidence from 1026 households in Ningxia

[Objective] In the post-poverty alleviation era, examining the relationship between household income growth and nutritional intake structure of poverty-alleviated farmers is not only the key to preventing poverty due to illness, but also an important issue to be considered to achieve the effective connection between poverty alleviation, rural revitalization, and common prosperity. [Methods] Based on the research data of 1026 poverty-alleviated farmers in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, this study first empirically analyzed the effect of income growth on the nutritional intake structure of poverty-alleviated farmers by using the ordinary least squares (OLS) model on the basis of theoretical analysis. Second, the results of the OLS model were discussed in terms of endogeneity and tested for robustness from a multidimensional perspective. Finally, this study compared the cohort differences of the impact on different poverty-alleviated farmers. [Results] Income growth has a significant impact on the nutritional needs of poverty-alleviated farming households. The income elasticity of total calories, carbides, protein, fat, and vitamins of poverty-alleviated farming households is 0.221, -0.135, 0.253, 0.218, and -0.092, respectively. Endogeneity and robustness tests support this conclusion. In addition, the analysis of group differences showed that the nutritional intake structure of households with average age of 41 years and above, education level of junior high school and above, and engaged in aquaculture is more significantly affected by income growth. [Conclusion] Proper dietary intake of nutrients is a potential determinant of population health and long-term stable economic development. It is recommended that the government should pay attention to the imbalance in the nutritional structure of families as a result of income growth, while formulating relevant policies to improve the household income of poverty-alleviated farmers.