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Land Inequality in India: Nature, History, and Markets

Author

Listed:
  • Nitin Kumar Bharti

    (UWA - The University of Western Australia)

  • David Blakeslee

    (New York University [Abu Dhabi] - NYU - NYU System)

  • Samreen Malik

    (New York University [Abu Dhabi] - NYU - NYU System)

Abstract

Land is the primary productive asset in agrarian economies. However, the origin of inequities in land holdings is poorly understood. Using data from 270,000 Indian villages, we disentangle the contributions of agricultural, market, and historical factors using a variety of methodological approaches. British rule and landlord tenure increase inequality-which is confirmed by a border discontinuity analysis-as does the presence of historically marginalized populations. Agricultural suitability increases inequality by expanding large holdings, though its impact is attenuated by structural transformation. Public goods provision has a concave relationship to land inequality, with a decline in villages dominated by one landlord.

Suggested Citation

  • Nitin Kumar Bharti & David Blakeslee & Samreen Malik, 2026. "Land Inequality in India: Nature, History, and Markets," Working Papers halshs-05626432, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-05626432
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-05626432v1
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