Edgar Orozco

First Name: 
Edgar
Last Name: 
Orozco
Mentor: 
Dr. Priscilla Connors
Abstract: 
As a future economist, I posit that food insecurity is an application of the fundamental economic concept of scarcity: the gap between limited resources and unlimited wants. It is an instance of personal decision-making about allocating resources to satisfy basic needs for nutritious food while sufficing marginal wants. Using a qualitative approach similar to that used by Henry (2017) I ask students guiding questions that reveal connections between sociodemographic characteristics, housing, and food insecurity. How are personal resources affecting access to healthy food and how can the university address resource limitations among students? The literature has established that limited availability of nutrition foods has a negative impact on educational attainment. I would go as far to say that it is unacceptable that any student should experience the daily stress of deciding between paying tuition and eating dinner. Using a Grounded Theory approach Dr. Connors and I identify personal and environmental factors that influence risk of food insecurity and suggest ways to address this issue at UNT.
Poster: 
Student Food Insecurity and the Economic Concept of Scarcity
Year: 
2021