Property Laws - Who's Land Is It?

This is something I have been thinking more about over the last few years. I don't believe that totally planned societies and state ownership of all property works very well. But what about the state owning the land and not the structures on it? That would make zoning and environmental regulation much easier. It would also better control use of natural resources, which may overlap property lines and exploitation of resources usually affects adjacent property holders.

Property holders would have to have some claim to the uses of the land, but as long as we trust our government and the processes for controlling the uses of the land, this should be a more reasonable use of the land for the greater good.


China Legislature Introduces Property Law
By Maureen Fan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, March 8, 2007; 7:44 AM


BEIJING, March 8 -- In preparation for likely approval, China's legislature on Thursday began examining a much-debated law that helps protect private property in an increasingly well-off society.