age-201403-0001 ArticleInAPeriodical 2014 Agricultural Economics 60 3 99-109 JENÍČEKVladimír GRÓFOVÁŠárka Least developed countries - comparison The inter-related causes of food insecurity in these countries are mainly the long lasting civil wars, a limited access to land, environmental degradation, climatic shocks and the rapid population growth resulting from the high birth rates and the return of refugees.