Tenants, the New Victims of Inflation; Hidden Hunger and Malnutrition Intensified

The newspaper 'Donya-e-Eqtesad' pointed out the economic pressures on Iranian tenants, stating that high inflation in the housing and rental sector has led to a decrease in the calorie consumption of tenants. The newspaper reported that studies on the hidden aspects of poverty and the impact of inflation on household welfare show that although the average per capita calorie intake of households decreased by 10% from the beginning to the end of the 2010s due to the rapid increase in living costs, this calorie deficit is more acute for tenants who are forced to 'cover housing rental costs.' In this context, Donya-e-Eqtesad noted that the calorie intake of tenants has reached 1990 kilocalories per day, which is below the 'minimum daily calorie requirement (2100).' Results from a study conducted by the research arm of the parliament on poverty indicate that the consequences of housing poverty and the increasing difficulty of covering rental costs manifest as severe food poverty among many homeless households. The Research Center of the Parliament, in a report titled 'The Status of Poverty and Characteristics of the Poor in the Past Decade,' stated that living in rental housing is one of the factors that reduces household welfare. Accordingly, the rate of rental housing among urban poor is about four percentage points higher than that of the non-poor. Additionally, tenants, due to rental costs, are forced to cut back on other expenses, particularly food, resulting in their calorie intake consistently being lower than that of homeowners. The report emphasized that the increase in poverty and the reduction of the share of other expenses besides food and housing is not solely limited to reducing welfare costs but can have irreparable consequences for households and lead to intergenerational poverty. For example, the share of education in total household expenses has decreased by about 60% over the past decade. Donya-e-Eqtesad stressed that the amount of calorie intake cannot be reduced beyond a certain point, as the needs of a living person must be met. However, supplementary reports indicate that while the minimum calorie requirement for a living person is on average 2100 kilocalories per day, in 2021, the average calorie intake of tenant households fell below this level, reaching 1990 calories. Abbas Abdi, a journalist and political analyst, also wrote in the Sunday issue of Etemad newspaper that 'we are facing the worst kind of poverty.' He noted that this poverty has another significant feature: its exacerbating condition. In other words, households take actions to survive that make them poorer. They eliminate education, health, and other poverty alleviation measures from their consumption basket, which in turn exacerbates poverty in the future. The Ham-Mihan newspaper on February 1, 2023, declared inflation as the underlying cause of malnutrition in Iran, reporting that statistics from the Ministry of Health show that about 16% of children under six years old in Iran suffer from malnutrition, and 800,000 children in growth stages face energy, protein, and micronutrient deficiencies. According to these statistics, 11% of children in Iran are underweight, and 5% are severely thin. The Tejarat newspaper also reported on November 23 of last year that studies conducted in the provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan, Hormozgan, Ilam, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad show a high prevalence of stunting, underweight, and thinness due to malnutrition. This newspaper emphasized that 'many families cannot secure their daily livelihood, let alone purchase items such as meat, chicken, and rice, and provide the necessary vitamins for their children's growth.' The Director General of the Nutrition Improvement Office of the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education stated last year that the increase in food prices and inflation have all contributed to an increased risk of food insecurity in the country, especially among low-income groups and lower income deciles.