Unproductive Landscapes: Determinants of Investment-Driven Land Idleness and Socioeconomic Implications in Peri-Urban Areas of Debre Markos, Ethiopia

Peri-urban areas are experiencing an increase in idle land, which poses challenges to sustainable land utilization and development in these areas. Although peri-urban land management and governance have been studied, investment-driven land idleness remains unexplored. This study examined the prevalence and associated socioeconomic implications in Debre Markos, Ethiopia, using a mixed-methods approach that included surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis. Data were analyzed using thematic, descriptive, and inferential analysis techniques. The findings of the logit model revealed that low market demand for goods and services, parcel size, limited availability of land financing, insufficient initial capital of investors, topographic constraints, land speculation activities, rising construction material costs, weaknesses in institutions governing land, current political instability in the Amhara region, and the presence of land disputes were statistically significant in determining the prevalence of land idleness at the 95% confidence interval. The distance from the urban center and degree of land fertility were not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). The findings provide valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers to address land idleness and enhance sustainable land use in investment-driven peri-urban acquisitions in Ethiopia.