Economic institutions and agricultural output in Sub- Sahara Africa

Abstract

This paper examined the impact of two economic institutional variables viz land property rights and market freedom on agricultural output, using a Sub-Saharan African sample. Panel ARDL techniques are employed in the empirical analysis. The findings show that property rights and market freedom have no short-run effect on agricultural output. However, in the long run, land property right is significant, though, with a negative sign, market freedom remains insignificant. The two institutional variables were not statistically significant through the short and long runs in the presidential system. Meanwhile, land property right has a long-run significant positive effect on agriculture output in the parliamentary system. Therefore, it is recommended that land reforms that will guarantee the protection of land property rights for the majority of farmers should be given urgent attention, particularly in countries with the presidential system and across SSA countries in general.