The Profits of Power: Land Rights and Agricultural Investment in Ghana

S-Tier
Journal: Journal of Political Economy
Year: 2008
Volume: 116
Issue: 6
Pages: 981-1022

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We examine the impact of ambiguous and contested land rights on investment and productivity in agriculture in Akwapim, Ghana. We show that individuals who hold powerful positions in a local political hierarchy have more secure tenure rights and that as a consequence they invest more in land fertility and have substantially higher output. The intensity of investments on different plots cultivated by a given individual corresponds to that individual's security of tenure over those specific plots and, in turn, to the individual's position in the political hierarchy relevant to those specific plots. (c) 2008 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jpolec:v:116:y:2008:i:6:p:981-1022
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25