Land Grab as Development Strategy. The Political Economy of Agricultural Investment in Ethiopia

Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2023 in the subject Economics - Economic Cycle and Growth, , course: Development Policy Making Process and Implementation Strategies, language: English, abstract: This paper analyzes Tom Lavers' 2012 article titled "Land grab' as strategy? The political economy of agricultural investment in Ethiopia", which explores the relationship between agricultural investment and land acquisition in Ethiopia. The paper argues that foreign investment in agricultural land has become a key strategy for the Ethiopian government to transform the country's economy and agriculture sector. The article critically examines this strategy by focusing on the political economy of large-scale agricultural investment, highlighting the key actors involved in the process, and the implications of such strategy for small farmers and the broader Ethiopian society. The paper also highlights the various critiques and controversies surrounding large-scale agricultural investment in Ethiopia, including issues related to land acquisition, land tenure, environmental degradation, and social displacement.