Access to Land and Tenancy Practices on Tanah Bengkok: Evidence from Java, Indonesia

48 Pages Posted: 17 Aug 2020

See all articles by Takashi Kurosaki

Takashi Kurosaki

Hitotsubashi University

Saumik Paul

World Bank; University of Nottingham - Malaysia Campus

Firman Witoelar

Australian National University (ANU)

Abstract

Tanah bengkok (bengkok land) in Java, Indonesia boasts a unique institution where elected village leaders receive usufruct rights to a parcel of land owned by the village, in lieu of salary. Despite its relevance to the political economy of land distribution in Java, unavailability of systematic data has so far constrained in-depth empirical research on bengkok land. In 2018, we conducted a survey covering 130 villages and more than 1,800 households in Java. We found substantial heterogeneity in the incidence and use patterns of bengkok land across villages. Fixed rental tenancy appeared more prevalent than sharecropping on bengkok land and bengkok landlords seldom got involved in tenants' farming decisions, which made bengkok land management look more 'business-like'. Finally, evidence is consistent with political cycles as the village heads with reelection motives offered sharecropping contracts to non-relatives to garner a larger pool of supporters.

Keywords: Tanah bengkok, land tenancy, village administration, political cycle, Java, Indonesia

JEL Classification: H77, H83, O13, P14, O53, Q15

Suggested Citation

Kurosaki, Takashi and Paul, Saumik and Witoelar, Firman, Access to Land and Tenancy Practices on Tanah Bengkok: Evidence from Java, Indonesia. IZA Discussion Paper No. 13597, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3674318 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3674318

Takashi Kurosaki (Contact Author)

Hitotsubashi University

2-1 Naka Kunitachi-shi
Tokyo 186-8601
Japan

Saumik Paul

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
United States

University of Nottingham - Malaysia Campus ( email )

Jalan Broga
Semenyih
Selangor Darul Ehsan, Selangor 43500
Malaysia

Firman Witoelar

Australian National University (ANU) ( email )

Crawford School of Public Policy
J.G. Crawford Building, #132, Lennox Crossing
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200
Australia
2604 (Fax)

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