Property rights on First Nations' reserve land

Anke Kessler and Fernando Aragon

No 12818, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: This paper examines the economic effects of existing private property rights on First Nations' reserves. We focus on three forms of land tenure regimes: lawful possession, designated land, and permits. These land regimes have been used to create individual land holdings, and grant secure and transferable rights of use of reserve land to band and non-band members. Using confidential Census micro-data and rich administrative data, we find evidence of improvements in home ownership and housing conditions, as well as increments in band's public spending. However, we find no significant impact on Aboriginal household income nor employment outcomes. Instead, we document that individual land holdings are associated with sizeable increases in the non-Aboriginal population. Our findings suggest that some caution is warranted when discussing the potential economic benefits of property right reforms for First Nations' communities.

Keywords: Property rights; Institutions; Economic development; First nations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O12 O43 P48 R14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-law and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Property rights on First Nations reserve land (2020)
Working Paper: Property rights on First Nations’ reserve land (2017)
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