Land is not merely a physical asset; it is a socially embedded institution shaped by governance, markets, and collective perceptions. This session explores how social and institutional forces influence land-use decisions, from regulatory frameworks to market exchanges and strategic behavior. By drawing on interdisciplinary research, we examine the broader social dynamics that govern land transactions, shape property rights, and drive patterns of economic and social transformation.
Building on Turner et al.'s (2020) framework for land use, this session contributes to the understanding of land as a social-ecological system characterized by interdependent social and biophysical subsystems. While land system science has advanced significantly in integrating environmental and economic factors, the role of social institutions in land governance remains underexplored. This session addresses this gap by highlighting how property rights regimes, institutional arrangements, and social norms shape land use decisions.
Although migration is not the primary focus of this session, several presentations establish important links between land governance and rural demographic dynamics. Land markets play a crucial role in shaping migration decisions by influencing access to economic opportunities, modifying incentives for long-term investments, and affecting perceptions of economic security in rural areas. Conversely, migration flows reshape land use patterns, alter rural property rights regimes, and transform governance structures.
Land tenure security, governance frameworks, and the legitimacy of land transactions play a crucial role in shaping rural demographic trends. Research from China, for example, highlights how secure land access influences household migration decisions, labor mobility, and rural economic resilience (Zhao, 1999). At the same time, migration-driven land abandonment, fragmentation, and ownership disputes create governance challenges that reshape local institutions (Bell et al., 2010). By examining these interactions, this session contributes to the broader IAMO Forum 2025 discussions, illustrating how land institutions mediate the relationship between rural mobility and quality of life.
The session focuses on three key areas:
• Institutional Structuring of Land Markets: Examining how governance arrangements and property rights influence transaction efficiency, equity, and strategic behaviors.
• Strategic Decision-Making in Land Transactions: Analyzing how economic agents respond to institutional constraints, market competition, and technological innovations in land use.
• Public Perceptions of Market Legitimacy: Investigating how skepticism, resistance to structural change, and social expectations shape regulatory outcomes and policy design.
Lanjiao Wen’s research explores vertical integration and cooperation surplus allocation in China’s rural construction land market. By applying transaction cost theory, the study examines how different integration strategies impact the equitable and efficient distribution of income among stakeholders. The findings highlight the role of vertical integration in shaping governance structures and income allocation, offering insights into the broader implications for rural land transactions and collective landholding organizations.
Xuchao Che investigates how land rights reorganization influences collective land protection behavior. This research examines the interaction between formal property rights and informal institutional constraints, shedding light on the governance mechanisms that support sustainable land use and economic resilience. By analyzing case studies from multiple provinces, the study reveals how different modes of land rights restructuring shape the decision-making processes of rural collective economic organizations.
Yilin Cui’s study focuses on the influence of traditional clans in shaping village land governance and expropriation processes. The research demonstrates how social networks within clans impact compensation negotiations, resistance to state-led land acquisitions, and broader governance dynamics. By analyzing historical and contemporary data, the study underscores the ways in which deeply embedded social norms continue to mediate land governance structures, particularly in contexts where state and local interests intersect.
Samuel Brea Martinez-Collado examines public skepticism toward agricultural land market regulations, particularly in the context of structural change. Through survey experiments in Germany, the study explores how public perceptions of market asymmetries and power imbalances shape regulatory preferences. Findings indicate that resistance to market-driven land consolidation and concerns over fairness in land transactions drive public support for stronger regulatory interventions, highlighting the importance of addressing public concerns in land policy debates.
Wang Tong’s research examines China’s agricultural land extension policy and its impact on long-term investment in farming. Using a large-scale survey, the study explores how extended land use rights influence farmers’ decisions to invest in capital-intensive and sustainable practices. Findings suggest that while policy stability encourages investment, its success depends on supportive institutions, including credit access and market integration. This research contributes to discussions on land policy and rural economic transformation in China.
By integrating perspectives from institutional economics, experimental research, and land policy studies, this session advances theoretical and empirical insights into land market governance. The discussions will contribute to a deeper understanding of how governance structures, strategic decision-making, and public attitudes interact to shape land market organization and legitimacy. In linking these insights to rural migration and immobility debates, the session underscores the broader socio-economic implications of land governance for sustainable and equitable rural futures.
References:
• Bell, S., Alves, S., de Oliveira, E. S., & Zuin, A. (2010). Migration and land use change in Europe: A review. Living Reviews in Landscape Research, 4(2).
• Turner, B. L., Lambin, E. F., & Reenberg, A. (2020). Framing the search for a theory of land use. Global Environmental Change, 32, 13-20.
• Zhao, Y. (1999). Leaving the countryside: Rural-to-urban migration decisions in China. American Economic Review, 89(2), 281-286.
