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Agricultural Land Issues in the Middle East and North Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Rafaelle Bertini

    (UniFI - Università degli Studi di Firenze = University of Florence = Université de Florence)

  • Abdallah Zouache

    (CLERSÉ - Centre Lillois d’Études et de Recherches Sociologiques et Économiques - UMR 8019 - Université de Lille - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

The continuing economic stagnation of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has typically been explained in terms of the resource-curse thesis. Yet, without analyzing the geographical constraints of MENA and the institutions of the region, particularly ones that pertain to land and property rights, this explanation is partial at best. Specifically addressing the structural constraints on using land for economic transformation, we offer a new explanation for the underdevelopment of MENA. We show that transformation in agriculture is inhibited by fuzzy property rights in land that were inherited from colonial and post-colonial agricultural policies. Political-economic transformation in MENA could unleash the power of land in the region.

Suggested Citation

  • Rafaelle Bertini & Abdallah Zouache, 2021. "Agricultural Land Issues in the Middle East and North Africa," Post-Print hal-04431182, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04431182
    DOI: 10.1111/ajes.12391
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Sattar, Aimen & Brown, Calum & Rounsevell, Mark & Alexander, Peter, 2024. "Typology analysis of Egyptian agricultural households reveals increasing income diversification and abandonment of agricultural activities," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).

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