Abstract

This work lays out the conceptual foundations for a new measurement of food insecurity. The TIDE measurement seeks to more fully explain the economic realities of food insecurity and “food deserts” by creating an empirical form of measurement that takes into account the social and economic disparities that exist in terms of how people acquire food. The primary purpose of the TIDE measurement is to provide a tool for administrators, researchers, and advocates to measure progress and evaluate program effectiveness. In addition to these administrative implications the TIDE measurement seeks to resolve debates within the literature concerning “classification” by providing a universal system by which to determine food insecurity.