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Do Formal Institutions Drive Land Security? Evidence from a Micro-Level Analysis in Ghana

Alhola, Sara Maria LU (2021) EKHS42 20211
Department of Economic History
Abstract
The need for land security continues to be urgent for economic development in Africa. Central
governments are implementing large-scale land reforms, yet the effects of land title
formalisation are still not thoroughly understood. The growing evidence by macro-level
empirical studies of the importance of property rights has not been sufficient for understanding
the factors that determine property right security within countries. Facing the variety of
consequences of formalisation and the increasing attention on local institutions, this paper
contributes by disentangling the question of formalisation through providing micro-level
evidence of the linkages between land title formality and land security. By utilising household
data from... (More)
The need for land security continues to be urgent for economic development in Africa. Central
governments are implementing large-scale land reforms, yet the effects of land title
formalisation are still not thoroughly understood. The growing evidence by macro-level
empirical studies of the importance of property rights has not been sufficient for understanding
the factors that determine property right security within countries. Facing the variety of
consequences of formalisation and the increasing attention on local institutions, this paper
contributes by disentangling the question of formalisation through providing micro-level
evidence of the linkages between land title formality and land security. By utilising household
data from Ghana, I find that a formal land title improves the owner’s rights to transfer land.
However, this relationship is heavily dependent on the regional characteristics. Although
formalisation holds potential in gaining wider land security, the results imply that land reforms
must be designed conditional to efficiencies of the local systems. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Alhola, Sara Maria LU
supervisor
organization
course
EKHS42 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Property Rights, Land Reform, Formalisation, Institutions, Ghana
language
English
id
9056201
date added to LUP
2021-08-26 10:41:58
date last changed
2021-08-26 10:41:58
@misc{9056201,
  abstract     = {{The need for land security continues to be urgent for economic development in Africa. Central
governments are implementing large-scale land reforms, yet the effects of land title
formalisation are still not thoroughly understood. The growing evidence by macro-level
empirical studies of the importance of property rights has not been sufficient for understanding
the factors that determine property right security within countries. Facing the variety of
consequences of formalisation and the increasing attention on local institutions, this paper
contributes by disentangling the question of formalisation through providing micro-level
evidence of the linkages between land title formality and land security. By utilising household
data from Ghana, I find that a formal land title improves the owner’s rights to transfer land.
However, this relationship is heavily dependent on the regional characteristics. Although
formalisation holds potential in gaining wider land security, the results imply that land reforms
must be designed conditional to efficiencies of the local systems.}},
  author       = {{Alhola, Sara Maria}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Do Formal Institutions Drive Land Security? Evidence from a Micro-Level Analysis in Ghana}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}