The political economy of titling in Jamaican urban informal settlements
(2024) MIDM19 20241Department of Human Geography
LUMID International Master programme in applied International Development and Management
- Abstract
- This qualitative study investigates how formalization of private property rights through titling affects poverty dynamics in urban informal settlements in Jamaica, a small “developing” state. It relies on a case study to explore the impact of titling on tenure security, housing investment, access to credit, and gender poverty and the factors that support or constrain titling initiatives. Given the relevance of the state and the efficacy of its institutions, this research uses a political economy approach to explain the institutional structures and power relationships that shape the environment in which titling programs are embedded. Data were collected through 12 semi-structured interviews, a questionnaire survey, and secondary sources,... (More)
- This qualitative study investigates how formalization of private property rights through titling affects poverty dynamics in urban informal settlements in Jamaica, a small “developing” state. It relies on a case study to explore the impact of titling on tenure security, housing investment, access to credit, and gender poverty and the factors that support or constrain titling initiatives. Given the relevance of the state and the efficacy of its institutions, this research uses a political economy approach to explain the institutional structures and power relationships that shape the environment in which titling programs are embedded. Data were collected through 12 semi-structured interviews, a questionnaire survey, and secondary sources, including Government of Jamaica publications and reports from donor agencies, which were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results suggest that titles enhanced resident’s sense of ownership of their property, facilitated credit access only for better educated and higher income earners, and that the state’s failure to consider women’s reproductive needs is a missed opportunity to help improve livelihoods. Findings also suggest, counter to neoliberal economic theories, that greater state involvement, particularly in the provision of basic services and improved institutional capacity, is necessary for titles to serve as a meaningful poverty reduction strategy. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9155542
- author
- Gaskin, Francene S LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- MIDM19 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- property rights, tenure security, credit access, housing investment, titling, gender, poverty, urban informal settlements
- language
- English
- id
- 9155542
- date added to LUP
- 2024-06-10 09:05:50
- date last changed
- 2024-06-10 09:05:50
@misc{9155542,
abstract = {{This qualitative study investigates how formalization of private property rights through titling affects poverty dynamics in urban informal settlements in Jamaica, a small “developing” state. It relies on a case study to explore the impact of titling on tenure security, housing investment, access to credit, and gender poverty and the factors that support or constrain titling initiatives. Given the relevance of the state and the efficacy of its institutions, this research uses a political economy approach to explain the institutional structures and power relationships that shape the environment in which titling programs are embedded. Data were collected through 12 semi-structured interviews, a questionnaire survey, and secondary sources, including Government of Jamaica publications and reports from donor agencies, which were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results suggest that titles enhanced resident’s sense of ownership of their property, facilitated credit access only for better educated and higher income earners, and that the state’s failure to consider women’s reproductive needs is a missed opportunity to help improve livelihoods. Findings also suggest, counter to neoliberal economic theories, that greater state involvement, particularly in the provision of basic services and improved institutional capacity, is necessary for titles to serve as a meaningful poverty reduction strategy.}},
author = {{Gaskin, Francene S}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{The political economy of titling in Jamaican urban informal settlements}},
year = {{2024}},
}