The economics of land title reform

• Published in: Journal of Comparative Economics Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 246 - 256
• Main Authors: Miceli, Thomas J., Kieyah, Joseph
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego Elsevier Inc 01.06.2003; Elsevier; Elsevier BV
• Series: Journal of Comparative Economics
• Subjects: Agricultural policy; Agriculture; Developing countries; Economic development; Economic growth; Economic reform; Economics; Land market; Land reform; Land rights; LDCs; Property rights; K11; O17; Q15; R52

This paper develops a model of land title reform in which the voluntary adoption of a new system is not likely to be successful, even if the new system Pareto dominates the existing one. The problem is an externality that prevents individual landowners from internalizing fully the benefits of the ne...