Revisiting forever gained: Income dynamics in the resettlement areas of Zimbabwe, 1983–96

Abstract

This study examines income dynamics for a panel of households resettled on former white‐owned farms in the aftermath of Zimbabwe's independence. There are four core findings: (i) over a 13‐year period (1983–96) there has been an impressive accumulation of assets and a dramatic increase of crop incomes; (ii) the rise of crop incomes is partly due to asset accumulation but largely to increased asset returns; (Hi) differences between households in initial conditions, such as previous farming experience, have few persistent effects; and (iv) income growth has been widely shared, income inequality has fallen sharply and the largest percentage increases in incomes are recorded by households that initially had the lowest incomes.