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Productivity Effects of Indigenous Land Tenure Systems in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Author(s) -
Place Frank,
Hazell Peter
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
american journal of agricultural economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.949
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1467-8276
pISSN - 0002-9092
DOI - 10.2307/1242949
Subject(s) - land titling , land rights , productivity , indigenous , land tenure , constraint (computer aided design) , agricultural economics , agricultural productivity , land registration , natural resource economics , business , agriculture , land use , land law , economics , economic growth , geography , environmental planning , ecology , mechanical engineering , archaeology , engineering , biology
This article uses household survey data from Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda to test if the indigenous land rights systems in sub‐Saharan Africa are a constraint on agricultural productivity. Rights which farmers hold over individual parcels of land vary widely, and are in many cases surprisingly privatized. Yet with few exceptions, land rights are not found to be a significant factor in determining investments in land improvements, use of inputs, access to credit, or the productivity of land. These results cast doubt on the need for ambitious land registration and titling programs at this time.