Resource information
This report is about integrated land
policy reform in context of rapid urbanization in China.
Over the past thirty years, China has undergone a profound
economic and social transformation as it moves towards a
market-oriented economy. Land issues are implicated in this
ongoing transformation in numerous ways. The allocation and
security of land rights are key factors in China's
quest for economic growth and social stability. Land use
choices influence the shape and sustainability of
China's rapidly growing cities, as well as the future
prospects of its agriculture. Revenue generated from land
plays a critical role in local government finances and
affects the relationship between different levels of
government. And increasingly, the growth and stability of
the financial sector are linked to land-based transactions
and financing arrangements. For the last four years, the
Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC) and
the World Bank have been working together to develop a
deeper understanding of the role of land policy in China,
and to identify options for moving forward on key
land-related problems and opportunities. The spectacular
growth of cities has been one of the most prominent features
of China's recent history. From 1980 to 2005, the urban
population grew from 19.4 percent to 43.0 percent. Urban
growth has also been spatially dramatic, with the
accelerating lateral expansion of cities resulting in the
rapid conversion of agricultural land. The urban-rural
interface defines an arena that is ideal for examining the
complex interplay of all of China's most pressing land
issues, including those of special relevance to the
agricultural sector.
