I am a PostDoc at the University of Göttingen and a member of the Research Training Group 2654 Sustainable Food Systems. I obtained a PhD in Economics from the University of Göttingen. My work focuses on food security and poverty, primarily in low- and middle-income countries.

Drawing on large cross-country and geospatial data, I study dietary patterns around the globe, focusing on the affordability of nutritious foods and the role of self-sufficiency and market dependencies at both micro and macro levels. I also investigate the long-term persistence of these patterns. Lastly, I examine the conceptual foundations of poverty and investigate whether labor market programs can effectively alleviate it.

In my research, I use descriptive, experimental, quasi-experimental, and machine learning techniques.

My research has been supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG), the European Centre for Advanced Studies (ECAS), and the Joachim-Herz Foundation.

Research areas

Development Economics, Poverty, Food Security, Health

Publications

• Stehl J, Vonderschmidt A, Vollmer S, Alexander P, Jaacks LM (2025). Gap between national food production and food-based dietary guidance highlights lack of national self-sufficiency. Nature Food 6, 571–576 (2025).
  
  Media selection:
  • BBC Science Focus: Only one country in the world produces all the food it needs, study finds. 22.05.2025.
  • Welt: Nur dieses Land schafft es, genug Nahrung für seine Bevölkerung zu produzieren. 09.06.2025.
  • Metrópoles: Apenas um país é autossuficiente em comida no mundo. 28.05.2025.
  • National Geographic Espana: Solo hay un país en el mundo que produce suficiente comida para alimentar a toda su población. 09.06.2025.

  
  

• Stehl J, Depenbusch L, Vollmer S (2025). Global poverty and the cost of a healthy diet. Food Policy, 132: 102849.
  
  Media selection (older version of the paper):
  • ZDF: Milliarden Menschen ohne gesunde Ernährung. 01.10.2024.
  • TAZ: Kein Geld für gesundes Essen. 01.10.2024.
  • Tagesspiegel: „Ernährungsarmut dramatisch hoch“: Jeder Dritte hat kein Geld für gesundes Essen. 01.10.2024.

Discussion Papers

• Stehl J, Sibhatu K, Jaacks LM, Vollmer S (2025). Food Sourcing and Diets: Evidence from 45 Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Preprint available at Research Square.
• Squarcina M, Hänsch J, Montoya Cepeda FM, Pallauf M, Paz B, Stehl J, Wehner J, Wollni M. Developing a multidimensional resilience index for farm households: A food system approach. SustainableFood Discussion Paper No. 14.