Property rights and health for the urban housing poor in Nairobi: Evidence from a phased-in natural experiment

Abstract

ABSTRACT Proponents of property rights claim that ownership rights are associated with tenure security and better health among the poor and recommend titling programs. There is a dearth of empirical studies testing these claims in Africa. This paper examines effects of property rights on tenure security, physical, and psychological health. The study took advantage of the phased in approach to housing delivery in Kibera, Nairobi, allowing for the study to be designed as a phased-in natural experiment involving three sites. The first site was Kibera Zone B, which had potential beneficiaries living in slum conditions. The second was Lang’ata, which had potential beneficiaries who were transferred from slum conditions to temporary housing in conditions similar to the newly constructed housing. Third was Canaan Estate, which had beneficiaries living in the newly constructed housing. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis H-Test, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression and propensity score matching were employed. The paper shows that property rights increase tenure security, which reduces fears and worries about the possibility of eviction, and in turn improves psychological health. However, when states provide property rights along with adequate dwelling, the dwelling is what is associated with many positive effects.