Land rights, time preference and farm investments : a comparative study from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

Abstract

Low and uneven farmer investments constrain agricultural productivity and modernization. Using farm surveys from Samarkand (Uzbekistan) and Turkistan (Kazakhstan) in 2019 and 2022, this dissertation examines which perceived land right bundles relate most to machinery/equipment investment, whether time preference is related to investment, and how key land tenure perceptions change over time. Investment is measured by asset counts and asset diversity. Results show land rights bundles are not equally important and patterns differ across settings; time preference matters more in Kazakhstan. Perceived tenure security changed more in Uzbekistan between 2019–2022, consistent with recent reforms, and mostly improved, but perceptions of land expropriation risk remain persistent. Policy should be tailored to each setting, but generally prioritize crop-choice and management autonomy, strengthen tenure security, and account for farmers’ reluctance to wait for long-term returns.