The Political Impacts of Land Expropriation in China

Abstract

I study the political consequences of state expropriation of agricultural land in rural China by using national individual-level panel data for the period 2010-2018. Comparing outcomes before and after expropriation with changes among individuals not experiencing expropriation, I find that having one’s land expropriated decreases individuals’ trust towards local government officials, and increases the incidence of having conflicts with local government officials. I also provide evidence that the adverse political impacts can be mitigated by better local governance and undertaking projects with public benefits.