Data and Code for: Land Misallocation and Productivity

Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s) Chaoran Chen, York University (Canada); Diego Restuccia, University of Toronto; Raul Santaeulalia-Llopis, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

Version: View help for Version V1

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README.pdf	application/pdf	108 KB	11/01/2022 07:42:AM

Project Citation:

Chen, Chaoran, Restuccia, Diego, and Santaeulalia-Llopis, Raul. Data and Code for: Land Misallocation and Productivity. Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2023. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2023-03-27. https://doi.org/10.3886/E174542V1

Project Description

Summary: Using detailed household-level data from Malawi on physical quantities of agricultural outputs and inputs, we measure farm total factor productivity (TFP) controlling for land quality, rain, and transitory shocks. We find that operated land size and capital are essentially unrelated to farm TFP implying substantial factor misallocation. The agricultural output gain from a reallocation of factors to their efficient use among existing farmers is a factor between 1.7 to 2.8-fold. We provide suggestive evidence connecting misallocation with the extent of land markets and illustrate how an efficient allocation via rental markets can substantially reduce agricultural income inequality and poverty.

Scope of Project

Subject Terms: Misallocation; Land; Productivity; Agriculture; Malawi; Household data

JEL Classification:
      O11 Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
      O13 Economic Development: Agriculture; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Other Primary Products
      O41 One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models
      Q15 Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment

Geographic Coverage: Malawi

Time Period(s): 2010 – 2011; 2013 – 2013; 2016 – 2017; 2019 – 2020

Collection Date(s): 3/2010 – 3/2011; 4/2013 – 11/2013; 4/2016 – 4/2017; 4/2019 – 4/2020

Universe: Households in selected enumeration areas, rural and urban, in mainland Malawi.

Data Type(s): survey data

Methodology

Data Source: National Statistical Office (2012), Malawi Third Integrated Household Survey 2010—2011
(Reference ID: MWI_2010_IHS-III_v01_M)

National Statistical Office (2017), Malawi Fourth Integrated Household Survey 2016—2017 (Reference ID: MWI_2016_IHS-IV_v04_M)

National Statistical Office (2020a), Malawi Fifth Integrated Household Survey 2019—2020
(Reference ID: MWI_2019_IHS-V_v05_M)

National Statistical Office (2020b), Malawi Integrated Household Panel Survey 2010—2013—2016—2019 (Reference ID: MWI_2010-2019_IHPS_v05_M)

Unit(s) of Observation: Households

Geographic Unit: Enumeration areas

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Published Versions

V1 [2023-03-27]

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