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Population Growth and Customary Law on Land: The Case of Cordillera Villages in the Philippines

Author

Listed:
  • Lorelei Crisologo-Mendoza;

    (KU Leuven, Belguim and UP College Baguio, Philippines)

  • Dirk Van de gaer

Abstract

This paper examines how a traditional village deals with the consequences of population growth. The increase in population demands more intensive use of the land which requires the transformation of commonly-owned land into privately-owned land. Customary law contains clear prescriptions about the circumstances under which a couple can privatize land. We estimate this land accumulation rule using date from two villages in the Cordillera Region of the Philippines. In order to study the evolution of the distribution of land, we model the inheritance practices of the community which constitutes another aspect of customary law. Finally, we use the model to show that despite the flexibility of the customary law on land, the present rapid growth of the population given the limited availability of land leads to its breakdown. This could be avoided only if seven out of ten children are able to make a living from occupations other than farming.

Suggested Citation

  • Lorelei Crisologo-Mendoza; & Dirk Van de gaer, 1997. "Population Growth and Customary Law on Land: The Case of Cordillera Villages in the Philippines," Economics Department Working Paper Series n761197, Department of Economics, National University of Ireland - Maynooth.
    • Handle: RePEc:may:mayecw:n761197
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    File URL: http://repec.maynoothuniversity.ie/mayecw-files/N761197.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Population Growth;

    JEL classification:

    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns

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