Fixing the urban-rural gap? China weighs making ‘left-behind property’ tradeable

Advocates Call for Legalization of Rural Land Transactions in China

China has undergone three rounds of land reform since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949. The most recent, in 1978, allowed collectively owned land to be contracted by individual households.

The Potential Impact of Legalizing Rural Land Transactions

• Legalizing rural land transactions could address urgent economic issues in China, including a property market crisis, urban-rural divide, and lack of sustainable growth options.
• China’s GDP growth was 5.2% last year, and legalizing rural land transactions could potentially boost it to over 8% annually for more than two decades.

The Current Land Systems in China

China has two different legal regimes for urban and rural land. Urban land is directly owned by the state and can be leased to businesses and individuals. Rural land, on the other hand, is owned by village collectives and can only be traded among members of the same village.

• The inability to trade rural land limits farmers’ opportunities to raise capital and often leads them to move to cities for work.
• This has resulted in vast abandoned land and property in the countryside.

The Need for Rural Land Reform

• The Chinese government has pledged to reform the rural land system to address income and social welfare gaps between urban and rural areas.
• However, progress in implementing these reforms has been slow.

The Potential Benefits and Concerns

• Allowing free trade of rural homes could bring urban residents to the countryside, supporting the government’s rural revitalization campaign.
• However, concerns exist that such reforms could harm farmers by exposing them to the force of capital and potentially leaving them without a basic source of security.

Public Opinion and Policy Considerations

• A survey conducted during the Lunar New Year holiday showed that there is no public consensus on the issue of rural land reform.
• Nearly 46% of respondents wanted rights to farmland to be adjusted based on changes in population, while the rest preferred things to remain unchanged.
• Policies should be steady and considerate of public opinion.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.4: Ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership, and control over land and other forms of property.
   • Indicator 1.4.2: Proportion of total adult population with secure tenure rights to land, with legally recognized documentation and who perceive their rights to land as secure, by sex and by type of tenure.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.1: Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 percent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries.
   • Indicator 8.1.1: Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
   • Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and persons with disabilities.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
   • Indicator 11.3.1: Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Analysis

1. SDG 1: No Poverty

   The article discusses the issue of rural land reform in China, which is relevant to SDG 1 as it aims to ensure equal rights to economic resources and access to land and property. The target identified is Target 1.4, which focuses on providing secure tenure rights to land. The indicator mentioned is Indicator 1.4.2, which measures the proportion of the population with secure tenure rights to land.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   The article highlights the potential economic growth that could be achieved through the tradeability of rural land in China. This connects to SDG 8, which aims to promote sustainable economic growth. The specific target identified is Target 8.1, which focuses on sustaining per capita economic growth. The indicator mentioned is Indicator 8.1.1, which measures the annual growth rate of real GDP per capita.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   The article discusses the social and economic disparities between rural and urban areas in China. This relates to SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequalities. The specific target identified is Target 10.2, which focuses on promoting social and economic inclusion. The indicator mentioned is Indicator 10.2.1, which measures the proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   The article mentions the need for inclusive and sustainable urbanization in China. This aligns with SDG 11, which aims to create sustainable cities and communities. The specific target identified is Target 11.3, which focuses on enhancing inclusive and sustainable urbanization. The indicator mentioned is Indicator 11.3.1, which measures the ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate.

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Source: scmp.com

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