When land markets 'do not work' and status-quo agrarian structures persist: A case study from rural Albania

Abstract

This paper provides micro-analyses of land market development after two decades of Albanian transition. We use data from a survey conducted in four Albanian villages during May 2013. The results indicate that land markets are highly rigid with almost no structural changes took place over the last two decades. Sale markets are almost non-existent due to property rights insecurity and prevalence of subsistence farming in rural Albania. Rental markets are more sizable but due to property rights insecurity and monitoring problem of absentee landowners, the vast majority of rental arrangements are between family relatives.