Politics, Patronage and Projects: The Political Economy of Agricultural Policy in Tanzania

Abstract

The study examines politics, patronage and projects. It focuses on the political economy of agricultural policy in Tanzania. Data was obtained through literature review and other reports. The report concludes that patronage and rent-seeking undermine official policies designed to deliver public or private goods to voters, with both public and private sector interests informally capturing the lion’s share of the rents created. What proportion of these rents is invested in production rather than dissipated in consumption is not known. Key future research and data needs are flagged in the final section.