Effects of Agricultural Land Titling on Poverty Reduction in China
利用中国低收入人口行政数据，研究发现农业土地确权通过增强劳动激励、促进劳动力向非农部门转移及增加残疾人劳动参与，显著降低了农村家庭贫困发生率，并减少了长期贫困风险。
ABSTRACT Using administrative data on low‐income populations, this study provides quasi‐experimental evidence on the impact of agricultural land titling on poverty reduction in rural China. We show that the staggered rollout of the programme at the town level significantly reduces household poverty incidence by enhancing labour incentives, facilitating the reallocation of labour to non‐agricultural sectors and increasing labour market participation among people with disabilities. We provide a simple theoretical framework with empirically testable predictions to interpret our results. Further analysis reveals that agricultural land titling promotes land reallocation and supports income growth through different channels for agricultural and non‐agricultural households. Additional evidence suggests that the programme mitigates vulnerability and reduces the risk of long‐term poverty. These findings illustrate how institutional reforms in property rights empower labour incentives among vulnerable groups, providing valuable insights for other developing countries aiming to achieve sustainable and inclusive poverty reduction.