Land is unlike any other commodity. Market transactions contribute to much-needed changes in land redistribution – but they should be regulated because unregulated land markets favour those who can buy or rent land, rather than serve the general interest. Various direct and indirect instruments can be used to regulate land markets.

This issue has risen up the public policy agenda in many countries in the global South in recent years. In addition to top-down State measures, regulating land markets often requires interventions by local entities that can establish and enforce rules on transactions with a degree of autonomy.

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