DETERMINANTS OF HOUSEHOLD FOOD EXPENDITURE IN MALI: A QUINTILE REGRESSION APPROACH

This article discusses the determinants of monthly food consumption expenditures of households in Mali, using a quintile approach. The study is based on survey data from the EMOP, 2020 on household expenditures. This survey was conducted in the same year among 6703 households in the eight regions of Mali and the District of Bamako. The application of the simultaneous quintile regression yields results indicating that total household expenditures are positively correlated with monthly household food consumption expenditures in the 25th, 50th, and 75th quintiles and also in all regions and the District of Bamako. An increase of one unit in the number of motorcycles in good condition owned by the household and in the number of internet connections would significantly reduce household food expenditures in all three quintiles in Mali. The inter-regional analysis, by OLS, indicates that with the exception of the regions of Koulikoro, Ségou and Kidal, the effect of the number of motorcycles in the other regions is negatively significant. It is most evident in Bamako (12018.88 FCFA), Kayes (10061.8 FCFA) and Timbuktu (5695.76 FCFA). Compared to the other regions, the effect of the cell phone would reduce the food consumption of households in Timbuktu more (5922.22 FCFA).