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Land Governance and Local Tenure Systems: The Role of Government Policy

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A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Socio-Economic and Political Issues".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (17 November 2023) | Viewed by 18299

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Nikola Vučić

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Guest Editor

State Geodetic Administration, Gruška 20, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: 3D cadastre; land administration; geodesy

Dr. Hrvoje Tomić

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Geodesy, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: land management; GIS; SDI
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Saša Vranić

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Guest Editor

Geoweb (Freelance Consultant), 44000 Sisak, Croatia
Interests: geospatial web applications; spatial databases; geospatial standards; land administration systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) addresses the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development in an integrated and balanced manner by focusing development efforts around the 17 “integrated and indivisible” global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Land administration has a major influence on the fulfillment of these goals.

Land tenure is a very important economic and political issue, and is an integral element of agricultural, rural and urban development policies. Land policy choices play a key role in shaping territorial development. Governments play a key role in governing, managing and administering land in any country. The primary purpose of a land administration system (LAS) is the registration of legal or other formal relations of persons to land. Besides the mere registration of the land, multipurpose LASs must be able to efficiently support processes of land valuation, urban planning and various rearrangements aiming to increase agricultural productivity of the land. By increasing its efficiency and its usability, a land administration system can be transformed into a multipurpose land administration system. Efficient and good LASs enable information-based land policy. Land policy could ensure sustainable land use, fit-for-purpose LASs and the prevention/resolution of land conflicts and disputes.

Good government decisions for land administration should be based on scientific or professional achievements. Local tenure systems should be created or modified in the best way for a given country’s economy and for the better living of its citizens and, especially, farmers. The adoption of the Land Administration Domain Model (ISO 19152 – LADM) in the land administration system of any country is advisable. In urban areas, 2D data are not efficient for fit-for-purpose land governance, and the introduction of 3D data is almost mandatory. In order to keep planet Earth safe for life, it is necessary to follow the Agenda for Sustainable Development until 2030, especially in the domain of land administration.

In this Special Issue, we expect the publication of research results that will provide answers to questions such as:

How can we improve local tenure systems?
How can we make land administration in countries where land administration does not exist?
How can we implement the digital transformation of land administration data where it is needed?
How can land administration be upgraded in 3D to be more efficient?
How can the Agenda for Sustainable Development be followed until 2030 for good and efficient land governance and local tenure systems?

Dr. Nikola Vučić
Dr. Hrvoje Tomić
Dr. Saša Vranić
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

land administration
land governance
local tenure systems
cadastre
land registry
3D cadastre
LADM
agenda for sustainable development until 2030

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 1015 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agricultural Land Rights Confirmation, Clan Network, and Farmers’ Investment in Production and Operation

by Mingyong Hong, Shunfa Yu and Jiao Long

Land 2023, 12(10), 1951; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101951 - 22 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1878

Abstract

This study is based on micro-survey data on rural household transfers in China. This study uses a multiple linear regression model (to analyze the relationship between variables), an instrumental variable model (to solve potential endogenous problems), and an intermediary effect model to explore the impact of farmland rights confirmation and clan network on farmers’ investment in production and operation and the relationship between clan network confirmation of farmland rights and farmer household investment. The research shows that: (1) The confirmation of farmland rights in China substantially bolsters farmers’ investments in agricultural production and operation. It serves as a secure foundation for land property rights, elevating farmers’ confidence and significantly contributing to the growth of rural economies and the improvement of farmers’ income levels in the Chinese context. (2) In the Chinese context, the existence of clan networks exerts a discernible adverse influence on farmers’ investment decisions in agricultural production and operation. This is primarily attributable to the restricted flow of information within these networks, the enforcement of stringent social norms, and the prevalence of risk-averse attitudes. These factors collectively act as barriers, dampening farmers’ enthusiasm for investment and impeding effective decision-making. (3) Importantly, the confirmation of agricultural land rights in China serves as a counterbalance to the inhibitory effects of clan networks. It achieves this by mitigating information asymmetry and reducing cooperation risks. This proactive approach not only promotes but also facilitates farmers’ investments in agricultural production and operation within the Chinese context. Consequently, land rights confirmation emerges as a key driver of increased rural investments in China. This study conducts in-depth research on the impact of farmland ownership confirmation and clan networks on farmers’ investment behavior and the mechanism of action, which provides a useful reference for formulating relevant policies, such as increasing the authority of cultivated land, promoting the modernization of clan networks, cultivating modern management capabilities, etc. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Governance and Local Tenure Systems: The Role of Government Policy)

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34 pages, 1251 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Theories behind Change of Land Expropriation Institutions in Cross-Strait: An Analysis from Historical Institutionalism Approach

by Liliang You

Land 2023, 12(10), 1867; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101867 - 1 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2521

Abstract

Rapid urbanization in developing countries has led to an increasing demand for urban construction land. As a result, many farmers’ lands have been expropriated by local governments, exacerbating the imbalance between land supply and demand. This issue is particularly pronounced in Chinese Mainland, where land expropriation institutions have operated at a suboptimal level for an extended period. While existing research has explored the current practices and potential avenues for the optimization of the horizontal aspects of land expropriation institutions in Chinese Mainland, there remains a dearth of academic inquiry from a historical developmental and comparative analytical perspective. To address this gap, this article uses the analytical framework of historical institutionalism and combines it with the comparison case method and in-depth interviews to analyze the fundamental path, logic, and dynamic mechanism behind land expropriation institutional change in Cross-Strait and provide insights for similar developing countries. Research shows that Cross-Strait land expropriation institutions have gone through five different stages of development, and finally evolved in the direction of narrowing the scope of expropriation and increasing the compensation for expropriation. Cross-Strait land expropriation institutions show a triple logic in terms of change types, change paths, and change processes: in terms of change types, there are compulsory changes and mutual games between induced factors and actors pushing for compulsory changes; in terms of change paths, there are patterns of displacement, drift, conversion, and layering; and in terms of gradual change processes, path dependence characteristics become apparent within Cross-Strait land expropriation institutions. The synergistic interaction among the institutional milieu, ideas, and actors constitutes the dynamic mechanisms for the change of land expropriation institutions in Cross-Strait. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Governance and Local Tenure Systems: The Role of Government Policy)

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28 pages, 1903 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Realization Mechanism of Land Value-Added Benefit Distribution Justice in Rural Homestead Disputes in China—Based on the Perspective of Judicial Governance

by Lingling Li, Qianyu Dong and Changjian Li

Land 2023, 12(7), 1305; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071305 - 28 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1744

Abstract

In the process of urban-rural Integration, the reform of the “separation of three rights” of homesteads has released huge institutional dividends for the vigorous utilization of rural homesteads. With the gradual deepening of the reform of the homestead system the number of disputes related to the transfer of the land use of rural homesteads is increasing rapidly. Based on the quasi-case research method, this paper integrates the relevant case facts, the focus of the dispute, the legal basis, and other case elements and realizes the judgment of case similarity based on the legal argument model, which aims to solve the problem of realizing justice in the distribution of land value-added benefit in homestead disputes. It also puts forward the realization mechanism reform suggestions based on the perspective of judicial governance, so as to demonstrate the ways in which conflicts arise and are resolved in the distribution of value-added benefit in China’s rural homestead transfer system. By using the search tool of the “China Judgment Document Network” to screen a total of 305 valid samples, it was revealed that the core problem of China’s homestead governance is the unfair distribution of land value-added benefit; that is, it is difficult to achieve effective distribution of land value-added benefit among farmers, collectives, and governments. The core litigation points in rural homestead disputes include homestead policies and the application of law, the litigability of cases, the scope of the subject, and the realization of powers, as well as the quantitative basis and rule scheme. From the perspective of judicial governance, the deep-seated issues in the distribution of value-added benefits reflected in the points of dispute are examined as follows: (1) the subject of the dispute faces judicial avoidance; (2) There is a game relationship in the value of subject rights; (3) it is difficult to quantitatively adjudicate under the existing allocation rules; (4) Institutional difficulties such as insufficient eligibility of applicable policies. Based on the conclusions of the above problems, this study proposes a judicial governance path for the realization of homestead value-added benefit distribution justice: the governance model is reorganized and optimized based on the purpose of realizing distributive justice; the value of rights throughout the process is integrated based on initial acquisition and redistribution; a multi-center linkage governance mechanism is constructed based on the coordination of homestead value-added benefit through all stages, which is supposed to provide an important reference for the judicial governance path for developing countries with similar difficulties, including China, to achieve justice in the distribution of land value-added benefit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Governance and Local Tenure Systems: The Role of Government Policy)

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16 pages, 1156 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Livelihood Capital on the Farmers’ Behavioral Intention of Rural Residential Land Development Right Transfer: Evidence from Wujin District, Changzhou City, China

by Ting Zhang, Jia Li and Yan Wang

Land 2023, 12(6), 1207; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12061207 - 10 Jun 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1945

Abstract

In the process of rapid urbanization and industrialization, there is a significant gap between farmers’ participation and rural homestead reorganization for the more diversified external environment. Despite considerable research focused on homestead withdrawal, the transfer of rural residential land development rights has received comparatively little attention. To realize the optimal use of rural homesteads’ resources and reducing potential living risks, this paper conducted an empirical study on the impact of farmers’ livelihood capital on their behavioral intention of rural residential land development right transfer within Wujin District as an example by incorporating the concepts of livelihood capital and risk perception into the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The results of this research show that the increase in livelihood capital may reduce the level of risk perception. The livelihood capital influences farmers’ intentions towards rural residential land development right transfer through risk perception and individual cognition. Based on the findings of this study, it is suggested to diversify livelihood strategies and improve the quality of livelihood capital, in order to reduce the constraint impact of risk perception on farmers’ behavioral intention (BI). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Governance and Local Tenure Systems: The Role of Government Policy)

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23 pages, 1144 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using Risk System Theory to Explore Farmers’ Intentions towards Rural Homestead Transfer: Empirical Evidence from Anhui, China

by Gexin Guan and Wei Zhao

Land 2023, 12(3), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030714 - 21 Mar 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2736

Abstract

In China, rural homesteads are strategic elements for coordinating the people and land resources relationship between urban and rural regions and are powerful means for increasing the property income of farmers. The rural homestead transfer issue has always concerned policymakers. In this paper, the risk system theory framework is employed to identify risk source (risk perception), risk control (the control measures and institutions), and risk receptor (farmers’ characteristics) to explore farmers’ intentions towards rural homestead transfer from the perspective of first- and second-order observation. The results demonstrate that farmers’ intentions are significantly affected by risk source from first-order observation, and risk control and risk receptor from second-order observation. The heterogeneity of outcomes is examined by grouping of ages and regions of sampled farmers. It is suggested that the risk perception needs of farmers should be respected, land tenure of rural homesteads should be tightly protected, and farmers’ characteristics should be of great concern. Moreover, more attention should be paid to idle homesteads, and full advantage taken of rural resources to develop featured rural industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Governance and Local Tenure Systems: The Role of Government Policy)

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19 pages, 2966 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Evolution Analysis and Spatial Optimization Strategy of Rural Tourism Based on Spatial Syntax Model—A Case Study of Matao Village in Shandong Province, China

by Xiaonan Qin, Xueting Du, Yue Wang and Lina Liu

Land 2023, 12(2), 317; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020317 - 23 Jan 2023

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3264

Abstract

As the tourism industry is embedded in the countryside, space, which is an important means of production of modern industries, has undergone significant changes in the models and trends of spatial transform. This paper aims to analyze the development pattern of rural economic and social structure driven by the tourism industry. Based on the spatial syntax model, it takes Matao Village of China as the research sample and decomposes the evolutionary process of rural space transform. Firstly (1) in the self-driven development stage, the rural space presented a polar core development trend with high intelligibility and obvious agglomeration. Secondly (2) in the tourism-driven development stage, firstly, the driving force of the tourism industry was relatively weak, whereas the traditional spatial core still occupied an absolute advantage in the whole village space. However, with further development, the spatial scope of high Integration and Choice Values has expanded, resulting in multiple spatial development agglomeration centers. Based on this, it is proposed that a village with a tourism industry should integrate village spatial development planning with landscape style, focus on the regeneration and development of the old space core, and strengthen the integration and correlation of the old and new space clusters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Governance and Local Tenure Systems: The Role of Government Policy)

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15 pages, 1532 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Law of China’s Rural Land Institutional Changes: An Analytical Framework of Economic Efficiency and Distributive Equity

by Minghui Zhang and Weiqi Xia

Land 2022, 11(12), 2229; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122229 - 7 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1632

Abstract

Institutions affect economic development and social stability, and the characteristics of institutional change are a complex and widely discussed topic. This paper constructs a theoretical analysis framework to describe the relationship between institutional change, resource conditions, and overall social welfare, so as to explore the preconditions for the formation of institutions with greater equity and higher economic efficiency. On the basis of this analytical framework, we conduct a case study on China’s rural land institutional changes over the past 70 years to explore the law of institutional changes. We found that when resources are scarce, economic efficiency and distributive equity usually pose difficulty to being improved and present a substitution relationship, while only when resources are sufficient could they realise these goals. The findings indicate that for regions with meagre resources, the advantageous sectors need to be identified and prioritised at the beginning of the development so as to recognise the appropriate initial resource accumulation. A certain accumulation of resources is the prerequisite for creating institutions that could improve economic efficiency and offer equitable distribution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Governance and Local Tenure Systems: The Role of Government Policy)

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