Before revision:  After removing the effects of numerous environmental inputs, we find that different countries have reliably and substantially different basal starting points in average HAZ scores (a range of 1.7 SD) . These country-specific starting points, which we define as basal HAZ, are not associated with key indicators of undernutrition (e. g., infant mortality and average calorie deficit).
After revision:  We validate these components by assessing their associations with key indicators of undernutrition. We then re-estimate stunting prevalence with population-sensitive cutoffs based on the estimates of these two components. Results: Basal HAZ differs reliably across countries (range of 1.6 SD) and is independent of measures of undernutrition.