What drives the global "land rush"?

Working paper

We review evidence regarding the size and evolution of the "land rush" in the wake of the 2007-2008 boom in agricultural commodity prices and study determinants of foreign land acquisition for large-scale agricultural investment. Using data on bilateral investment relationships to estimate gravity models of transnational land-intensive investments confirms the central role of agro-ecological potential as a pull factor but contrasts with standard literature insofar as quality of the destination country's business climate is insignificant and weak tenure security is associated with increased interest for investors to acquire land in that country. Policy implications are discussed.

Authors: Arezki, R; Deininger, K; Selod, H

• Publication status: Published
• Publisher: University of Oxford
• Series: OxCarre Papers
• Publication date: 2013-08-20
• Paper number: 120
• Keywords: land governance; land availability; foreign investments; agro-ecological potential; large-scale agriculture; property rights; land acquisition