China's urban sprawl has led to serious social cleavages. Unclear land and property rights have resulted in an uneasy alliance between real estate companies and local authorities, with most willing to strike illegal deals over land. The results have been devastating. Farmers live in fear that the land they till today will be gone tomorrow, while urban citizens are regularly evicted from their homes to make way for new skyscrapers and highways. These shocking incidents underscore the urgency of the land question in China. The recent conviction of the Chinese Minister for Land Resources and the forced evictions that have led to the injury and death of ordinary Chinese citizens highlight the case for land reform. Against this backdrop, many scholars criticize China's lack of privatization and titling of property. This monograph, however, demonstrates that these critically depend on timing and place. Land titling is imperative for the wealthier regions, yet, may prove detrimental in areas with high poverty. The book argues that China's land reform can only succeed if the clarification of property rights is done with caution and ample regard for regional variations.

Peter Ho is Chair Professor of Chinese Economy and Development and Director of the European Research Council (ERC) Project on Land Policy and Administration in China . Ho has extensively published on institutions and property rights, sustainable and rural development, poverty and social inequality, and environmental policy and management in China. He published widely in the leading SSCI/SCI-rated journals of Development and Environmental Studies with impact factors ranging from 3.0 to 8.25. Furthermore, Peter Ho has published over 10 books amongst which with Oxford University Press, Routledge, and Blackwell Publishers. Ho is concurrently seconded to the Ford Foundation in Beijing, where he oversees the grant-making in the program on sustainable development in China.

Prior to taking up his current post Peter Ho has served as Chair Professor for nearly 10 years. First, as Chair Professor of International Development Studies and Director of the Centre for Development Studies at Groningen University (1648), and subsequently as Chair Professor of Chinese Economy and Development at the University of Leiden (1575) and Director of its Modern East Asia Research Centre.

In recognition of his scientific achievements, Prof. Ho was awarded the prestigious Independent Research Grant as Consolidator by the European Research Council (ERC). This highly competitive prize of 1.5 million Euros targets the top scientists within the European Union. The ERC Review Panel noted about Prof. Ho that he: “is a world renowned scholar with an impressive set of publications and awards to his name” while his achievements and publications “show great intellectual capacity and creativity” (ERC Review Report, 2011).

Peter Ho has initiated and supervised large-scale projects with a total budget of over 4.5 million Euro. His projects have been personally supported by the Vice-Chairman of the National People’s Congress of China and the Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation, and were visited by the Chinese Vice-Minister of Land and Resources, and the Dutch Minister of Spatial Planning and Environment.

Peter Ho acts as advisor to members of the Chinese government and the Dutch Cabinet, including the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He has served on various commissions as a scientific advisor for the OECD, the EU, international corporations and banks.