Land Tenure and Agricultural Productivity in Africa: A Comparative Analysis of the Economics Literature and Recent Policy Strategies and Reforms

SummaryThis paper examines the convergence and divergence of results from economic studies of the relationships between land tenure security and agricultural productivity in Africa and how these results have been incorporated into recent agricultural, poverty alleviation, and land policy documents. The paper finds that there are both areas of convergence and divergence in the economics literature. Similarly, the attention given to land tenure and its perceived effects on productivity varies considerably in the policy literature. The significant heterogeneity in findings itself suggests that policy responses must pay attention to local context and the overarching macro and sectoral conditions within which tenure systems operate.