Land Rights and Agricultural Investment in Ghana: A Gender Analysis

Abstract

Neoclassical economist has postulated a positive relationship between property rights and investment. However recent empirical studies have begun to cast doubt on the existence of this relationship especially after controlling for endogeneity. Most of these studies have ignored the gender dimensions to this relationship. This study therefore examines the relationship between property rights and investment from a gender perspective and also controls for the endogeneity of property rights. The study found that investment in farmlands does not enhance property rights for men whilst in the case of women; it appears that an improvement made on the land enhances the right of the owner. Also, the study concluded that improvement in rights does not influence the investment decisions of men whilst in the case of plots owned by women, bequeath rights seems to have a positive influence on the investment decision of the owner. This finding implies that the relationship between property and investment is not the same among gender as most studies would have it.