Paper short abstract:

This paper uses a linear random effect model to investigate inter-household and intra-household inequalities in under-five children's nutritional status in Malawi by gender of the household head. It provides policy suggestions for nutritional and redistributive policies design.

Paper long abstract:

This paper uses a variance decomposition approach to investigate inter-household and intra-household inequalities in under-five children's nutritional status in Malawi and distinguish between explained and unexplained variance. The adopted linear random effect model is based on a version of the conceptual framework established by UNICEF and the adopted dataset is from the Malawian Endline Survey 2014. The selected impact variable is child stunting. The explanatory variables are representative of the underlining and basic causes of this nutritional status. This study adds to the literature the estimate by gender of the household headship and an up-date evidence on the Malawian case where prevalence of child malnutrition is rampant

The results reveal important distinguishing features of the effect of between- and within-household inequality on child nutritional status. Between-household inequalities, especially those unexplained by the adopted model, mostly drive the long-term child nutritional inequalities.

The results provide policy suggestions for the design of nutritional and redistributive policies aimed at reaching the Sustainable Development Goals and the country's growth and development strategy.