Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Privatization, Land Reform, and Property Rights: the Mexican Experience

  • Published:
Constitutional Political Economy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper is concernedwith rural property rights in Mexico. Consideration of this issuewas occasioned by the liberal program of reform adopted in 1992by the government of Carlos Salinas de Gortari, which providesfor a gradual privatization of the Mexican ejidos, a form ofcommunally administered property. The present contribution examinesto what extent this reform project is theoretically founded andwhich practical problems it encounters in implementation. Thegenesis and structure of rural property rights in Mexico is outlined.The problems associated with implementing the reform projectare discussed for an empirical case example in the Soconuscoregion (Chiapas) in Mexico. Finally, a number of consequencesare drawn.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acheson, J. (1995) "Coase Among the Purepechas: Transaction Costs and Institutional Change in a Mexican Indian Pueblo." Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE) 152: 358–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alchian, A. (1965) "Some Economics of Property Rights." Il Politico 30: 816–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alchian, A. and Demsetz, H. (1973) "The Property Rights Paradigm." Journal of Economic History 43: 16–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bardhan, P. (1989) "The New Institutional Economics and Development Theory: A Brief Critical Assessment." World Development 17 (9): 1389–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartra, A. (1995) "Origen y claves del sistema finquero del Soconusco." Chiapas. Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas, Universidad Autónoma de México Ciudad Universitaria, México D.F.: 29–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bethell, L. (1991) Mexico since independence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boris, D. (1996) Mexiko im Umbruch. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bortz, J. L. (1986) El salario en México. Mexico D.F.

  • Buhbe, M. (1980) Ökonomische Analyse von Eigentumsrechten. Frankfurt: Lang.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cartas, J. M. (1990) "Orden politico y orden economico en México: Dilemas y alternativas." Centro Interdisciplinario de Estudios sobre el Desarrollo Latinoamericano (CIEDLA), Buenos Aires.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cebrereos, A. (1990) "La reorganización productiva del campo mexicano: el caso del minifundio." Comercio Exterior 40 (9): 849–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cecena, A. E. (1995) "Chiapas y sus recursos estratégicos." Chiapas Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas, Universidad Autónoma de México Ciudad Universitaria, México D.F.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, W. E. (1990) "Technology, Ceremonies, and Institutional Appropriateness: Historical Origins of Mexico's Agrarian Crisis." In: Dietz, J. L., Dilmus, J. D. (eds.) Progress toward development in Latin America: From Prebisch to technological autonomy, pp. 103–129. London: Lynne Rienner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colson, E. (1974) Tradition and Contract: The Problem of Order. Chicago: Chicago University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Consejo Estatal de Café (1994–96) Censo Estatal de Café. México.

  • Consejo Mexicano del Café (1996) Programa de Credito a la Cafeticultura ciclo 1995/1996-Avance de la Recuperacién del Credito. México D.F.

  • Coordinadora Nacional de Organizaciones Cafetaleras (CNOC) (1996) Comentarios en relación a un nuevo Programa Nacional de Créditos de Avío-Agricola coclo 1996/1997. México D.F.

  • Demsetz, H. (1967) "Toward a Theory of Property Rights." American Economic Review 57: 347–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Demsetz, H. (1969) "Information and Efficiency: Another Viewpoint." Journal of Law and Economics 12 (1): 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckstein, S. et al. (1978) "Land Reform in Latin America: Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Venezuela." World Bank Staff Working Papers No. 275. Washington D.C.

  • Elsner, W. (1986) Ökonomische Institutionenanalyse. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot.

    Google Scholar 

  • Encinas Rodríguez, A. (1990) "El ejido transformado: notas para un programa de reformas al sistema ejidal." In: Calva, J. L., Rodríguez, A. E., and Menéses, L. (eds.) El ejido en México: Crisis y Modernización. México D.F.

  • Fix-Fierro, H. (1995) "Agrarreform und Landentwicklung." In: Lauth, H.-J., Horn, H.-R. (eds.), Mexiko im Wandel, pp. 69–78. Frankfurt: Vervuert.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furubotn, E. G. and Pejovich, S. (1974) The Economics of Property Rights. Cambridge, Mass.: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furubotn, E. G. and Pejovich, S. (1972), "Property Rights and Economic Theory: A Survey of Recent Literature." Journal of Economic Literature 10: 1137–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guzmán, F. G. (1991) "Las alternativas de liberalizacián de la tenencia ejidal: algunas notas críticas." In: Elejido-En el presente y el futuro de la economía mexicana, Foro Nacional del 27 al 29 de agosto 1990, Universidad Autonoma Chapingo: 140–44.

  • Hardin, G. (1968) "The Tragedy of the Commons." Science 162: 1243–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heath, J. R. (1992) "Evaluating the impact of Mexico's Land Reform on agricultural productivity." World Development 20 (5): 695–711.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutter, M. (1979) Die Gestaltung von Property Rights als Mittel gesellschaftlich-wirtschaftlicher Allokation. Göttingen Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • IMF (International Monetary Fund) (1993) "Mexico's economic performance strengthens as adjustment and reforms continue." 22 (17): 269–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • INEGI (Instituto Nacional de Estadistica Geografia e Informatica) (1994), Chiapas-Resultados definitivos. VII Censo Ejidal, 1991. Aguascalientes. México.

  • Ley Agraria (1992) Secretaría de la Reforma Agraria. México D.F.

  • Libecap, G. D. (1986) "Government Policies on property rights to land: US implications for agricultural development in Mexico." Agricultural History 60 (1).

  • Maddison, A. (1992) The Political Economy of Poverty, Equity, and Growth-Brazil and Mexico. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mata García, B. (1991) "La modernización del campo y el ejido." In: El ejido-En el presente y el futuro de la economía mexicana. Foro Nacional del 27 al 29 de agosto 1990. Universidad Autonoma Chapingo: 22–27.

  • Menéses Murillo, L. (1991) "El derarrollo rural, una estrategia campesina." In: El ejido-En el presente y el futuro de la economía mexicana. Foro Nacional del 27 al 29 de agosto 1990, Universidad Autonoma Chapingo: 7–15.

  • North, D. C. (1990) Institutions, Institutional Change and Economic Performance. Cambridge, Mass: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostrom, E. (1990) Governing the Commons. The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Posner, R. A. (1972) The Economic Analysis of Law. Ney York: Apsen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reyes Osorio, S. (1974) Estructura Agraria y Desarrollo Agrícola en México. Fondo de Cultura Económica. México D.F.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reyes Ramos, M. E. (1992) El Reparto de Tierras y la Politica Agraria en Chiapas 1914–1918. Universidad Autónoma de México. México D.F.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter, R. (1994) Institutionen ökonomisch analysiert. Tübingen: Mohr [Siebeck].

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter, R. and Furubotn, E. (1996) Neue Institutionenökonomik. Eine Einführung und kritische Würdigung. Tübingen: Mohr [Siebeck].

    Google Scholar 

  • Schinke, R.(1997) Die Privatisierung der "ejidos"-Ein Ausweg aus der mexikanischen Agrarkrise? (Lecture held at the Conference of the Entwicklungsländer-Auschuß des Vereins für Socialpolitik in Zürich).

  • Schulte, M. (1992) "Der Charme von Korruption und Klientelen, Agrarmodernisierung und Kollektivismus aus der Sicht mexikanischer Kleinbauern." Politikwissenschaft 20, Münster, Hamburg.

  • Secretaría de Agricultura y Recursos Hidráulicos (SARH) (1990) Programa Nacional de Modernización del Campo, 1990–1994. Comercio Exterior, documento, octubre de 1990. México D.F.: 987-1008.

  • Téllez Kuenzler, L. (1994) "El campo." In: Arturo Warman (ed.), La Politica sociál en México 1989–1994. México D.F.: 29-105.

  • Torres, G. C. (1991) "Privatización o colectivación del ejido?" In: El ejido-En el presente y el futuro de la economía mexicana. Foro Nacional del 27 al 29 de agosto 1990. Universidad Autonoma Chapingo: 48–59.

  • Villafuerte Solís, D. (1993) El café en la frontera sur-La producción y los productores del Soconusco, Chiapas. Gobierno del Estado de Chiapas. Instituto Chiapaneco de Cultura, Ocozocoautla de Espinosa. Chiapas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, P. N. and Thompson, G. D. (1993) "Common Property and Uncertainty: Compensating Coalitions by Mexico's Pastoral Ejidatarios." Economic Development and Agricultural Change 41: 299–318.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Mertonstr. 17, D-60054, Frankfurt, Germany

    Malcolm H. Dunn

Authors
  1. Malcolm H. Dunn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dunn, M.H. Privatization, Land Reform, and Property Rights: the Mexican Experience. Constitutional Political Economy 11, 215–230 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009093922472

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009093922472

Search

Navigation