Publication: Land Policies for Growth and Poverty Reduction
Date
2003
ISSN
Published
2003
Author(s)
Abstract
Land policies are of fundamental
importance to sustainable growth, good governance, and the
well-being of, and the economic opportunities open to, both
rural and urban dwellers - particularly the poor. To this
end, research on land policy, and analysis of interventions
related to the subject, have long been of interest to the
Bank's Research Department, and other academic, and
civil society institutions. The report aims to strengthen
the effectiveness of land policy in support of development,
and poverty reduction, by setting out the results of recent
research in a way that is accessible to a wide audience of
policymakers, nongovernmental organizations, academics in
the Bank's client countries, donor agency officials,
and the broader development community. Its main message
rests on three principles: 1) provision of secure tenure to
land improves the welfare of the poor, particularly by
enhancing the asset base of those whose land rights are
often neglected, and, creates incentives needed for
investment, paramount to sustainable economic growth; 2)
facilitation of land exchange, and distribution, whether as
an asset or for current services, at low cost, through
markets, and non-market channels, will expedite land access
by productive, but land-poor producers, so that once
economic growth improves, financial markets would rely on
the use of land as collateral; and, 3) governments'
contribution to the promotion of socially desirable land
allocation, and utilization. The report discusses mechanisms
to promote tenure security, demonstrates the importance of
rental market transactions, arguing the removal of
impediments to these can generate equity advantages, and
positive investments. It also illustrates mechanisms,
ranging from taxation, to regulation and land use planning
to address these issues.
Citation
“Deininger, Klaus. 2003. Land Policies for Growth and Poverty Reduction. World Bank Policy Research Report;. © Washington, DC: World Bank and Oxford University Press. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/05d6d32a-4620-5c6b-bdea-ed3d82a4560b License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”