Deininger, KlausMonchuk, DanielNagarajan, Hari K.Singh, Sudhir K.2016-05-102016-05-102016-04-28The Journal of Development Studies0022-0388https://hdl.handle.net/10986/24263To appreciate overall impacts of fragmentation, underlying channels, and potential heterogeneity by holding size, we distinguish average fragment size and mean inter-fragment distance as two aspects of this phenomenon. Estimating a cost function with associated input demand equations on a large nationally representative Indian survey, robust to endogeneity, suggests that fragmentation’s main impact is to reduce mean plot size below the threshold for mechanization. Higher inter-fragment distances increase costs for larger holdings, but by a much smaller magnitude. Implications as to when programs to consolidate holdings may make sense and ways to ensure their sustainability are discussed.en-USCC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGOfragmentationinheritanceland ownershipagricultural productivityscale economiesendogeneityJournal ArticleWorld Bank10.1596/24263