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India’s Disappearing Common Lands: Fuzzy Boundaries, Encroachment, and Evolving Property Rights

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  • Elizabeth J.Z. Robinson

Abstract

Opportunistic land encroachment occurs in many low-income countries, gradually yet pervasively, until discrete areas of common land disappear. This paper, motivated by field observations in Karnataka, India, demonstrates that such an evolution of property rights from common to private may be efficient when the boundaries between common and private land are poorly defined, or "fuzzy." Using a multi-period optimization model, and introducing the concept of stock and flow enforcement, I show how effectiveness of enforcement effort, whether encroachment is reversible, and punitive fines, influence whether an area of common land is fully defined and protected or gradually or rapidly encroached.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth J.Z. Robinson, 2008. "India’s Disappearing Common Lands: Fuzzy Boundaries, Encroachment, and Evolving Property Rights," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 84(3), pages 409-422.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:landec:v:84:y:2008:i:3:p:409-422
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Clarke, Harry R. & Reed, William J. & Shrestha, Ram M., 1993. "Optimal enforcement of property rights on developing country forests subject to illegal logging," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 271-293, September.
    2. Nadkarni, M. V. & Pasha, Syed Ajmal, 1991. "Developing Uncultivated Lands: Some Issues from Karnataka's Experience in Social Forestry," Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, vol. 46(4), October.
    3. Matthew J. Baker, 2003. "An Equilibrium Conflict Model of Land Tenure in Hunter-Gatherer Societies," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 111(1), pages 124-173, February.
    4. Nash, John, 1991. "To make the punishment fit the crime: The theory and statistical estimation of a multi-period optimal deterrence model," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 11(1), pages 101-110, May.
    5. Hany R Clarke & Ram M. Shrestha, 1989. "Traditional Energy Programs with an Open Access Forest Resource: Policy Implications," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 4), pages 45-57.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thapliyal, Sneha & Mukherji, Arnab & Malghan, Deepak, 2019. "Economic inequality and loss of commons: Evidence from India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 693-712.
    2. Kocur-Bera, Katarzyna, 2021. "Nature of common lands in a post-communist country – The Polish perspective," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    3. Albers, H.J., 2010. "Spatial modeling of extraction and enforcement in developing country protected areas," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 165-179, April.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • Q24 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Land

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