Latin American countires are very dependent of the economic activities related to the appropiation of ground rent. In this sense, the measure of this category emerge as key aspect of macroeconomic study for this countries
this is perculiar to Latin America,such legal related issue are geopolitical in nature and so any crosscultural research on this might not oprofer solution Sir
Hi here is the title of a paper that considers land rights reform and public good in Nicaragua, sorry it is in capitals - WHAT IS IN THE ‘PUBLIC INTEREST’? THE CASE OF THE 1995 PROPERTY FORUM IN POST CONFLICT NICARAGUA. The pre proof version is available on www.kevinmorrell.org.uk
The problem of land grabbing measurement involves all countries that have an abundance of land resources. Statistically, there are data on direct foreign investments at the country level, emerging from the Balance of payments and are made available by the World Bank. Unfortunately these data do not always distinguish in detail the investments by type and in particular those for the acquisition of land. On the contrary, the USA Balance of payments distinguishes the various forms of investment.
Other data are collected freely by some organisms through the reporting of contracts between foreign companies and countries that possess the land.
One must distinguish, however, between land grabbing by foreign investors and those made by domestic investors. While the former are recorded through the balance of payments, a good part of the latter (the domestic ones) escapes to each control. So in some ways appears vain the attempt of some countries in Latin America to fix the maximum quota to the acquisition of land by foreigners. It follows that "made the law, found deception": the dimension may exceed the quota through the vitual joint ventures with the foreigners or through domestic companies that act as "men of straw"
Land grabbing affects mainly countries with weak ans small institutions, poor governance, and high corruption. I agree with dear Ting that the problem of land grabbing measurement involves all countries that have an abundance of land resources.
The problem of the Land grabbing is especially serious in Africa where entire populations are defrauded of their land and forced to migrate inward from which they came or abroad. It is like a step back hundreds of years.
Often they are the potentates who sell the land, sometimes tribal leaders, some other time just the State: corrupt or corruptible. On the side of the land grabbers are often sovereign wealth funds, as well as multinational companies, banks and banking foundations etc. But as we explain in the attached paper, the appropriation is not limited to land, but extends itself down into the mines, and on into the sky to take possession even of carbon credits.
The uprooting of farmers leads them to a state of frustration and to the desire to migrate to foreign countries leaving behind the tribal family. So sail the "ships of shame" that frequently become the final resting place of these disinherited. Those who manage to land on the Mediterranean coast are often relegated to concentration camps for prolonged periods and together with their freedom, they also lose their identity, but this is nothing but the result of that first act of the expropriation of their mother earth!
One more perspective on land grab is the urbanisation. Good and very fertile land is being taken over for housing construction. There are examples where in India good agriculture land is gone to construction of factories and housing. The issue is taking serious proportions in India and i seek comments from learned people from other parts of the world on the issue of How Much is Much in the name of development. Should industrial or urban development be at the cost of agriculture.
In Italy, the rate of land consumption in the 1950's was 2.9%. Today we are at 7.3%. Of 22 thousand square kilometers urbanized in Italy, 30% is occupied by buildings and sheds, 28% from paved roads and railways.
Since 2007, the urban population exceeded the rural population in the world. In 2050 it is expected that 70% of the world population will live in cities. If this is the scenario that lies ahead, the consequence in terms of soil sealing is obvious: the more the urbanization process goes on, the greater the consumption of soil will be.
Cities expand on good ground and not on the areas that create constructive and settlement problems unless that land is located in central places (inner city) or scenic locations or in landscape of particular value. During the process of industrialization, it was thought that they were mainly factories to consume soil, instead in the post-industrial it was discovered that are both the settlements in general (for residence, commercial, service, as well as industrial) and infrastructures e to absorb the soil. Add to this that in less developed countries such as Africa urbanization occurs without development, then you understand that besides the problem of waste land, there is also the scourge of human and social degradation.
I think it is not enough to approach the calculation of land rent through foreign direct investment. If the rent is a part of the national product (as Marx and the Classics stated) should be calculated as part of GDP. But this is very difficult.
One approach I have seen is performed by the difference between a normal profit rate (usually manufacturing) and the income of agricultural branches.
No sirve para calcular la transferencia de valor del land grabbing, pero esta base de datos recopila los casos (por lo menos, los más importantes) de acaparamiento de tierras en todo el mundo. Digo que no sirve, porque la info que tiene es sobre hectáreas acaparadas, tipo de producción, empresa, etc. y no montos de inversiones o ganancias.
http://www.landmatrix.org/en/
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