(De facto) Historical Ethnic Borders and Land Tenure in Sub-Saharan Africa

Arbeitspapier

We study the role of proximity to historical ethnic borders in determining individual land ownership in Sub-Saharan Africa. Following an instrumental variable strategy, we document that individuals have a lower likelihood of owning land near historical ethnic borders. In particular, the likelihood of owning land decreases by 15 percentage points, i.e., about 1/3 of the mean rate of landownership, for rural migrants who move from 57km (90th percentile) to 2 km (10th percentile) from the border. This result aligns with the view that competition for land is stronger and property rights are weaker close to historical ethnic borders in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: GLO Discussion Paper ; No. 1261

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions ; Economic History: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, and Extractive Industries: Africa; Oceania ; Economic Development: Agriculture; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Other Primary Products ; Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements ; Institutions and Growth ; Other Economic Systems: Political Economy; Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies ; Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment ; Natural Resources and Domestic and International Conflicts
• Subject: Land ownership ; Borders ; Property Rights ; Historical Homelands ; Development ; Africa ; Voronoi Tessellation ; Thiessen Tessellation

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Depetris-Chauvin, Emilio ; Özak, Ömer
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Global Labor Organization (GLO)
• (where): Essen
• (when): 2023

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/270739
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:45 AM CET