Publication Details

Land inheritance: a gendered analysis of factors influencing the intergenerational transmission of poverty

Kate Bird
2011

Abstract

This paper highlights the importance of land if poor people are to exit poverty, particularly those living in rural areas in low income developing countries. It describes the importance of women having equitable land ownership and inheritance rights both for their own well-being and in order to limit the intergenerational transmission of poverty. It explores a range of policy alternatives to improve equity and shows that in order to support gender equity and improved child outcomes change to legislation and customary practice needs to consider not only land ownership and inheritance but also marital and divorce laws. Policy analysts also need to consider whether individualised land tenure arrangements exist in a particular context or whether land is under collective communal land management systems as this will influence policy options. Enhanced equity depends not only on legal changes but also change in customary practice, both supported by a range of complementary actions.

Publication Type(s)

CPRC Working Paper

Keywords

intergenerational transmission of poverty assets gender inheritance

ISBN: 978-1-906433-87-1

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