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Ritual and property: Theorizing a Chinese case

Author

Listed:
  • Herrmann-Pillath Carsten

    (Max Weber Centre for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies, Erfurt University, Erfurt99084, Germany)

  • Guo Man

    (Economics and Management School, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Harbin150001, China)

Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of ‘ritual’ for analysing the interaction between informal and formal institutions, taking land property rights in South China as an empirical case. By ritual, we refer to public actions that involve artefacts and create common knowledge about behavioural patterns in a population. This theoretical notion of ritual (suggested by Michael Chwe) matches with indigenous Chinese notions (li zhi), both in terms of scholarly work and popular usages. Based on own fieldwork, we investigate into the representative case of an ‘urban village’ in Shenzhen where traditional lineage practices have shaped the institutional and physical transformation of this dynamic metropolis. We claim that the current management of land rights stays in continuity with the ‘ritual economy’ of traditional China.

Suggested Citation

  • Herrmann-Pillath Carsten & Guo Man, 2017. "Ritual and property: Theorizing a Chinese case," Man and the Economy, De Gruyter, vol. 4(1), pages 1-24, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:maneco:v:4:y:2017:i:1:p:24:n:5
    DOI: 10.1515/me-2017-0004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ritual; informal institutions; Shenzhen; Chinese lineages; land property rights; shareholding cooperatives; popular religion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K0 - Law and Economics - - General
    • P3 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions
    • Z1 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics

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