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Reverting to Informality: Unregistered Property Transactions and the Erosion of the Titling Reform in Peru

Author

Listed:
  • Italo A. Gutierrez
  • Oswaldo Molina

Abstract

Titling programs have focused mostly on providing initial tenure security and have not properly addressed maintaining the formality of future property transactions. Deregularization due to unregistered transactions can threaten the long-run success of titling programs. In this study, we document the incidence of unregistered property transactions in urban slums in Peru. We also exploit a natural experiment to identify how costly and burdensome registration policies can increase property deregularization. Overall, our findings stress the necessity of considering specific components—those aimed at maintaining properties formally in the medium and long terms—in the design of urban titling programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Italo A. Gutierrez & Oswaldo Molina, 2020. "Reverting to Informality: Unregistered Property Transactions and the Erosion of the Titling Reform in Peru," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 69(1), pages 317-334.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:ecdecc:doi:10.1086/703064
    DOI: 10.1086/703064
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    Cited by:

    1. Deininger,Klaus W. & Ali,Daniel Ayalew, 2022. "How Urban Land Titling and Registry Reform Affect Land and Credit Markets : Evidencefrom Lesotho," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10043, The World Bank.
    2. Oswaldo Molina & Mans Söderbom, 2018. "Heterogeneous Effects of Property Rights on Housing Investment in Urban Peru," Working Papers 119, Peruvian Economic Association.
    3. Klaus W. Deininger & Daniel Ayalew Ali, 2024. "Land Price Effects of Informality, Farm Size, and Land Reform : Evidence from More Than One Million Transactions in Ukraine," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11013, The World Bank.
    4. Panman, Alexandra & Lozano Gracia, Nancy, 2022. "Titling and beyond: Evidence from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    5. Deininger, Klaus & Ali, Daniel A., 2025. "Land Price Effects of Informality, Farm Size, and Land Reform: Evidence from More Than One Million Transactions in Ukraine," 2025 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2025, Denver, CO 361025, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    6. Ali, Daniel Ayalew & Deininger, Klaus, 2022. "Institutional determinants of large land-based investments’ performance in Zambia: Does title enhance productivity and structural transformation?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    7. Ali, Daniel Ayalew & Deininger, Klaus, 2024. "Using registry data to assess gender-differentiated land and credit market effects of urban land policy reform: Evidence from Lesotho," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    8. Bertrand Crettez & Marie Obidzinski, 2021. "The Choice of Titling System in Land and the Blockchain," Working Papers hal-04034974, HAL.
    9. Shewakena Aytenfisu Abab & Feyera Senbeta & Tamirat Tefera Negash, 2023. "The Effect of Policy and Technological Innovations of Land Tenure on Small Landholders’ Credit-Worthiness: Evidence from Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-19, May.
    10. Hawley, Zackary & Miranda, Juan José & Sawyer, W. Charles, 2018. "Land values, property rights, and home ownership: Implications for property taxation in Peru," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 38-47.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • P14 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Property Rights
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • R20 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - General
    • R28 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Government Policy
    • K0 - Law and Economics - - General

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