IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/taf/cityxx/v29y2025i1-2p52-75.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Mediating urban realities: the role of real-estate appraisers in dismantling the Musha'a system

Author

Listed:
  • Uri Ansenberg

Abstract

This paper examines the land titling process in Tel Aviv's Shapira neighborhood, highlighting the crucial role of real-estate appraisers in shaping the outcomes of Plan TA-4455. It challenges Hernando de Soto's claim that the shift from collective to private land ownership is a purely technical matter, revealing the deep socio-political influence of appraisers. Through qualitative research, including interviews and document analysis, the study shows how appraisers navigate complex land ownership scenarios, with their decisions directly impacting urban development and social equity. The paper critically engages with both proponents and critics of de Soto, arguing that the effects of land titling are neither inherently positive nor negative but are deeply political, shaped by the strategic choices made by these professionals. By positioning appraisers as central actors in the urban political landscape, this study underscores their significant role in determining who benefits from urban development and who is marginalized, offering a more politically engaged understanding of property rights reforms.

Suggested Citation

  • Uri Ansenberg, 2025. "Mediating urban realities: the role of real-estate appraisers in dismantling the Musha'a system," City, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(1-2), pages 52-75, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:cityxx:v:29:y:2025:i:1-2:p:52-75
    DOI: 10.1080/13604813.2025.2458970
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/13604813.2025.2458970
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1080/13604813.2025.2458970?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:taf:cityxx:v:29:y:2025:i:1-2:p:52-75. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Longhurst (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.tandfonline.com/CCIT20 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.