Date of Submission

Spring 2017

Academic Programs and Concentrations

Economics

Project Advisor 1

Kris Feder

Abstract/Artist's Statement

Due to the significant deregulation of commodity futures markets in 2000, the presence of index-speculators became increasingly prevalent. The strategies applied by these market participants drastically manipulated global commodity prices. The severe rise in food prices would come to initiate a global concern towards food security. Consequently, developed countries began implementing policies that would secure agricultural production and food supplies. This policy movement facilitated a trend in agricultural investments. Through political influence, investing governments were able augment favorable environments abroad for investors. In such environments, farmland was easily obtainable and regulations of agricultural investments were minimal. The combination of government influence, and decontrolled investment environments, has been the major catalyst in this recent investment trend. Recognized as one of the most commonly targeted countries, Ethiopia has faced a multitude of large-scale agricultural investments. The African country has adopted policies that have favored these agricultural investments, including policies that aim to modernize the land market. In attempt to confront the controversial role of financial institutions in the growing farmland investment trend, the project examines a collection of investment projects in Ethiopia. Furthermore, policy proposals regarding land reforms and the regulation of agricultural investments are provided. The projects seeks to challenge the controversies of this investment trend by offering policy suggestions that pursue a farming industry that supports small-scale farmers while also stimulating agricultural driven development.

Open Access Agreement

Open Access

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Download

This work is protected by a Creative Commons license. Any use not permitted under that license is prohibited.

Share

COinS