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Access to Land and Tenancy Practices on Tanah Bengkok: Evidence from Java, Indonesia

Author

Listed:
  • Kurosaki, Takashi

    (Hitotsubashi University)

  • Paul, Saumik

    (University of Manchester)

  • Witoelar, Firman

    (Australian National University)

Abstract

Tanah bengkok (bengkok land) in Java, Indonesia boasts a unique institution where elected village leaders receive usufruct rights to a parcel of land owned by the village, in lieu of salary. Despite its relevance to the political economy of land distribution in Java, unavailability of systematic data has so far constrained in-depth empirical research on bengkok land. In 2018, we conducted a survey covering 130 villages and more than 1,800 households in Java. We found substantial heterogeneity in the incidence and use patterns of bengkok land across villages. Fixed rental tenancy appeared more prevalent than sharecropping on bengkok land and bengkok landlords seldom got involved in tenants' farming decisions, which made bengkok land management look more 'business-like'. Finally, evidence is consistent with political cycles as the village heads with reelection motives offered sharecropping contracts to non-relatives to garner a larger pool of supporters.

Suggested Citation

  • Kurosaki, Takashi & Paul, Saumik & Witoelar, Firman, 2020. "Access to Land and Tenancy Practices on Tanah Bengkok: Evidence from Java, Indonesia," IZA Discussion Papers 13597, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp13597
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Takashi Kurosaki & Saumik Paul & Firman Witoelar, 2021. "Out of communal land: Clientelism through delegation of agricultural tenancy contracts," Departmental Working Papers 2021-20, The Australian National University, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics.
    2. Kurosaki, Takashi & Paul, Saumik & Witoelar, Firman, 2024. "In pursuit of power: Land tenancy contracts and local political business cycles in Indonesia," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).

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