Property Rights and Economic Development in Southeast Asia and Oceania

The assumption that a positive relationship exists between standardized property rights and economic development is upheld widely in most Southeast Asian and Pacific societies. Using an interdisciplinary approach and case studies, these papers assess the economic impact of standardized property rights on the land and natural resources in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Anthropological and sociological analyses of the relationship indicate a positive correlation may be difficult to sustain.

Toon Van Meij is a professor at the Centre for Pacific Studies at the University of Nijmegan, and a Senior Research Fellow for the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Franz von Benda-Beckmann is a professor at the Agricultural University of Wageningen.