Volume 9 • 2022 • Number transnational corporations investment and development

Table A1. Description of the variables
Variable
Nature of 
variable
Definition and source of data
Prevalence of 
undernourishment
Dependent
Percentage of the population whose habitual food consumption is 
insufficient to provide the dietary energy levels that are required 
to maintain a normal active and healthy life (World Development 
Indicators).
Dietary energy 
consumption
Dependent
Food available for human consumption, after deduction of all non-food 
consumption (exports, animal feed, industrial use, seed and wastage), 
expressed in kilocalories per person per day (FAOSTAT).
FDI in agriculture
Independent
Share of net FDI flows into the agriculture sector (agriculture, forestry 
and fishing) in total FDI (FAO Foreign Investment Database).
Land governance
Independent
Access to land index takes values between 1 and 6 with higher values 
indicating more equitable access to land (IFAD).
GDP per capita
Control
Gross domestic product (in constant 2015 United States dollars) divided 
by midyear population (World Development Indicators).
Crop production
Control
Agricultural production for each year relative to the base period 2014–
2016 (World Development Indicators).
Food exports
Control
Share of food exports in total merchandise exports (World Development 
Indicators).
Age dependency
Control
Ratio of dependents – people younger than 15 or older than 64 – to 
the working-age population – those ages 15–64 (World Development 
Indicators). 
Population density
Control
Midyear population divided by land area in km
2
(World Development 
Indicators).
Political stability
Control
Country scores that measure perceptions of the likelihood of political 
instability and/or politically-motivated violence, including terrorism; 
ranges from approximately -2.5 to 2.5 (World Governance Indicators).
Resource rich 
Control
1=if country has oil or mineral resources, 0=otherwise (UNCTAD).
Source
: Author’s compilation.
Appendix

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TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS 
Volume 29, 2022, Number 2