Publications /
Policy Brief

Back
An Incentivizing System of Ownership and of Usufruct Rights
Authors
October 3, 2018

Sustained productivity growth, stretched over decades in which the majority of farmers participate in and benefit from, successfully transform agriculture. Such sustained growth requires broad-based public and private investments. Why would private households invest in farming year in, year out, unless they expect to gain monetarily and can easily raise the credit needed? Security of tenure is critical for farmers to invest for growth and profit. This is shown to be true where security of tenure holds and where it does not. While this insight is generally not controversial, what is often controversial is how to achieve it.

The case of China’s agricultural and overall economic transformation, starting around 1979, is a dramatic example of the pivotal importance of private incentives anchored in tenure security and private profit. The Household Responsibility System (HRS) was a revolutionary measure in a China, which had implemented collectivized agriculture in accordance to Chairman Mao’s conviction that it was, in fact, superior. In this system, farmers could not see the direct link between their effort and their remuneration. However, after some 30 years (1949-79) of determined collectivization, agricultural performance was still lack luster and poverty extensive.

This brief illustrates the power of land tenure security for sustained agricultural productivity and income growth; and the difficulties for political leadership to ensure such security.

RELATED CONTENT

  • April 28, 2025
    In this episode, we discuss the Economic Report on Africa 2025, focusing on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its transformative potential. We explore how North African ...
  • April 28, 2025
    The autonomy proposal put forward by Morocco in April 2007 as the unique basis for settling the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara is gradually gaining international recognition. Although rejected by Algeria and the polisario, the Initiative has enjoyed broad international support since its launch, particularly from the United States and France, who have reaffirmed their support for Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara region. On April 8, 2025, the United States reiterated its positio ...
  • Authors
    April 25, 2025
    The International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court play key roles in upholding international law but face criticism over selective enforcement. The ICJ’s reliance on state consent and UN Security Council enforcement often weakens its impact, while the ICC’s jurisdictional limits and selective prosecutions raise concerns about equity. Contrasting global responses to similar rulings reveal geopolitical influences. The study underscores the need for institutional r ...
  • April 24, 2025
    This Policy Brief explores the evolving role of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in preventing crimes against humanity and in contributing to post-conflict reconstruction. Established to deter atrocities and ensure accountability for the gravest offences, the ICC is a testament to the international community’s aspiration for a rules-based order. Despite structural limitations — from its dependence on state cooperation to jurisdictional constraints and political backlashes — th ...
  • Authors
    Policy Center for the New South
    April 24, 2025
    The countries of the Atlantic region continue to navigate a complex series of challenges that demand urgent and innovative responses. Economic and financial instability, social unrest, and shifting political landscapes are reshaping the region’s geopolitical dynamics. Pressing issues including unemployment, poverty, violence, extremism, climate change, and migration are intensifying, underscoring the need for sustainable and inclusive solutions. Addressing these multifaceted challen ...
  • April 23, 2025
    The United States is at a critical juncture, facing a pivotal dilemma: preserving global leadership in a world it no longer fully controls. While it proclaims its primacy in the liberal international order, its actions tell a different story—one marked by tariffs, reshoring policies, and an open attempt to contain China’s rise. This strategy is driven less by long-term vision than domestic political calculus, underscoring the urgent need for strategic recalibration. ...
  • Authors
    Policy Center for the New South
    April 23, 2025
    The 11th edition of the Atlantic Dialogues Emerging Leaders (ADEL) program took place from December 8-12, 2024, in Rabat, Morocco. This year, 41 exceptional young professionals, aged 25 to 35, were selected from a highly competitive pool of over 1,300 applicants representing 134 countries. The cohort included participants from 23 nations across the Atlantic region, spanning Africa, Latin America, Europe, North America, and Asia. They brought expertise from a wide range of sectors, ...
  • April 23, 2025
    La proposition d’autonomie, avancée par le Maroc en avril 2007 comme base de règlement du différend autour du Sahara marocain, s’impose progressivement sur la scène internationale. Bien qu’elle soit rejetée par l’Algérie et le polisario, cette Initiative a bénéficié, depuis son lancement, d’un large soutien international, en particulier de la part des États-Unis et de la France, qui ont réaffirmé leur appui à la souveraineté marocaine sur cette région. Le 8 avril 2025 ...
  • April 22, 2025
    The African Union’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (AU PAPS) and the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS) are jointly organizing the 2nd Dialogue-Seminar on Elections and Democracy in Africa. Titled “Inclusive Governance: Amplifying Women’s Leadership in African ...