Land Inequality and Growth: Meta-Analysis and Relevance For Contemporary Development In Africa

In this paper we review the literature on inequality and growth, with a focus on land inequality, and apply meta-analysis to the subset of studies that have focused on the impact of land inequality on long term growth. Next we discuss the relevance of the issue, focusing on Africa. The literature on inequality and growth has firmly established a strong role of land inequality as a determinant of income inequality, and the negative impact of land inequality on long term growth, and also that inequality in assets ownership, once established, is very difficult to reverse. Land inequality negatively affects growth essentially in the long run and in the developing areas. Next, the article argues the contemporary relevance of the topic, through the example of Africa, where complex land markets and strong commercial pressure on land, including large scale land acquisitions by foreign investors, may result in land concentration