The Importance of Property Rights

I believe explicit property rights are essential to the recovery of Haiti. One of the challenges organizations involved in rebuilding (like Architecture for Humanity) is simply ascertaining ownership of land. Gregg MacDonald, the lead coordinator for the UN Shelter cluster, has identified a lack of clear land title as one of primary delays in producing shelter for the internally displaced. In Port-au-Prince, there is little to no legally available land. The vast majority of open land around the city is owned by a few elite families who demand compensation. For individual properties, owners are unable to be located and proof of ownership is nonexistent.