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Land Deals in Africa: Pioneers and Speculators

Author

Listed:
  • Collier Paul

    (University of Oxford)

  • Venables Anthony J.

    (University of Oxford)

Abstract

Much African land currently has low productivity and has attracted investors leasing land as a speculative option on higher future prices or productivity. To be beneficial land deals need to induce productivity enhancing investments. Some of these will be publicly provided (infrastructure, agronomic knowledge), and some can only be provided by ‘pioneer’ investors who discover what works and create demonstration effects. Such pioneers can be rewarded for the positive externalities they create by being granted options on large areas of land. However, pioneers must be separated from speculators by screening and by requirements to work a fraction of the land.

Suggested Citation

  • Collier Paul & Venables Anthony J., 2012. "Land Deals in Africa: Pioneers and Speculators," Journal of Globalization and Development, De Gruyter, vol. 3(1), pages 1-22, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:globdv:v:3:y:2012:i:1:n:3
    DOI: 10.1515/1948-1837.1228
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    land deals; land grabs; farmland; Africa; rent; lease;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • Q1 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture

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