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Agricultural Land Issues in the Middle East and North Africa

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  • Rafaelle Bertini
  • Abdallah Zouache

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," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 80(2), pages 549-583, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ajecsc:v:80:y:2021:i:2:p:549-583
    DOI: 10.1111/ajes.12391
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Abdallah Zouache, 2014. "De la question coloniale chez les anciens et néo-institutionnalistes," Revue d'économie politique, Dalloz, vol. 124(1), pages 129-149.
    2. Anne Haila, 2008. "From Annankatu to Antinkatu: Contracts, Development Rights and Partnerships in Kamppi, Helsinki," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(4), pages 804-814, December.
    3. Ross, Michael & Kaiser, Kai & Mazaheri, Nimah, 2011. "The"resource curse"in MENA ? political transitions, resource wealth, economic shocks, and conflict risk," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5742, The World Bank.
    4. Lowder, Sarah K. & Sánchez, Marco V. & Bertini, Raffaele, 2019. "Farms, family farms, farmland distribution and farm labour: What do we know today?," ESA Working Papers 301283, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA).
    5. Lowder, Sarah K. & Skoet, Jakob & Raney, Terri, 2016. "The Number, Size, and Distribution of Farms, Smallholder Farms, and Family Farms Worldwide," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 16-29.
    6. Graeub, Benjamin E. & Chappell, M. Jahi & Wittman, Hannah & Ledermann, Samuel & Kerr, Rachel Bezner & Gemmill-Herren, Barbara, 2016. "The State of Family Farms in the World," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 1-15.
    7. Barati, Ali Akbar & Azadi, Hossein & Scheffran, Jürgen, 2021. "Agricultural land fragmentation in Iran: Application of game theory," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    8. Timur Kuran, 2011. "The Long Divergence: How Islamic Law Held Back the Middle East," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, number 9273.
    9. World Bank, 2018. "World Development Report 2018 [Rapport sur le développement dans le monde 2018]," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 28340, December.
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