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Land titling and its effect on the allocation of public goods: Evidence from Mexico

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  • Ramírez-Álvarez, Aurora Alejandra

Abstract

In this paper, I study the effect of land ownership reforms in the allocation of local public goods in rural Mexico. I estimate the impact of acquiring dominio pleno, the private ownership of areas of land known as ejidos, on the allocation of local public goods (i.e., piped water and electricity). Using a first-differences matching estimator, I show that private property rights can be associated with lower growth of local public goods. During the period I study, there is lower growth in the percentage of households with access to water and electricity in dominio pleno ejidos. I suggest that this result is explained by a deteriorated role of the ejido leader, which is consistent with lower turnout rates in municipal elections observed in these areas.

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  • Ramírez-Álvarez, Aurora Alejandra, 2019. "Land titling and its effect on the allocation of public goods: Evidence from Mexico," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 1-1.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:124:y:2019:i:c:11
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104660
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Latin American; Mexico; Property rights; Land reform; Ejido; Public goods;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K4 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General

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