THE IMPACT OF MEXICO’SLAND REFORM ON PERIURBAN HOUSING PRODUCTION: Neoliberal or Neocorporatist?

Abstract

Changes to Mexico's Constitution in the 1990s marked the end of agrarian reform and the Revolutionary land regime which had allowed beneficiaries to work but not to sell their land. New legislation allowed individual parcels of ejido land to be converted into private property. Many observers link this 'privatization' with a transformation of the periurban landscape resulting from private developers' construction of mass 'social housing' developments: a classic example of neoliberal urbanism. We examine evidence for the Mexico City Metropolitan Area, finding that, although some developments do occupy former ejido land, developers mostly prefer private property, including former haciendas. Private sector interests are wary of the ejido for reasons that stem from its place in the corporatist political system that characterized twentieth-century Mexico, and the patchwork of privatized individual parcels clashes with developers' land acquisition strategies. Ejidatarios often prefer to retain control over their land, selling plots piecemeal. Our findings demonstrate the continuing significance of urban informality--on a scale that exceeds the development of ejido land for formal housing--and the intertwining of formal and informal. We interpret these interrelated processes of housing production as legacies of corporatism, underlining the significance of political influences on Latin American neoliberalism. 'Social (interest) housing' costs at most 118 times the monthly minimum salary. Repayments cannot exceed 30% of household income (Janoschka and Salinas, 2017). 4RAN-SIG still maps privatized parcels within the ejido boundaries. When distinguishing private from ejido property, we refer to land that has never belonged to an ejido.

Landscapes of dispossession: Criminal justice and property rights in Mexico (2015–2020)

“…According to some studies, this pattern of dispossession may be explained by the urbanization process in Mexico which has occurred on ejido property – subsequently sold, divided, dispossessed, occupied, or regularized - (Azuela and Cruz, 1989; Sánchez-Mejorada and Fernández Landero, 2005; Perló Cohen, 1981). Other authors argue that the urbanization of ejido land intensified towards the end of the 20th century, as a result of various legal reforms that allowed the ejidos to be sold on the open market and that, in one way or another, have been accompanied by dispossession practices (Varley and Salazar, 2021). Our results are also consistent with the highly conflictual and contested character of these territories.…”

“…It is possible that these localities have greater concentrations of spaces (apartments, buildings, wasteland, houses, terrains, warehouses, premises, and different types of businesses) and properties available for dispossession than rural municipalities. It is also likely that the same material transformations associated with urbanization– paving of streets, sewage, electricity, water, garbage collection, etc.—not only improve living conditions and value of properties, but also increase interest in, and conflict and speculation around the urbanized space (Varley and Salazar, 2009). Finally, it is important to note that urbanization also implies the invasion/occupation/colonization of agricultural land and rural communities, and the conversion of these into new cities or metropolitan areas, resulting in less agricultural land and the growth of urbanized spaces.2.…”

“…Other authors suggest that this process of occupation, invasion, and subdivision of ejido land was accelerated by, and in fact constitutes an essential part of, the neo-liberalization process of the Mexican State. A reflection on the empirical scope of these interpretations can be found in (Varley and Salazar, 2021).…”

Geografía y segregación socioespacial urbana. Una mirada desde Iberoamérica

“…Después de las reformas neoliberales al Ley Agraria en 1992 y al artículo 27 constitucional en 1994, es posible vender el ejido legalmente, siempre y cuando pase por un proceso de desincorporación (llamado dominio pleno) para convertirse en propiedad privada. Pese a ello, es claro que la mayoría de los ejidos no han escogido ese camino (Varley y Salazar, 2021) y la venta ilegal de suelo ejidal/comunal en el periurbano sigue dominando (Tellman, Eakin, Janssen, de Alba y Turner II, 2021; Varley and Salazar, 2021). Este tipo de compra/venta se realiza sin documento legales que garanticen los derechos de propiedad lo que aparentemente la hace más barata y accesible para la población de bajos recursos que no cuentan con créditos (Lombard, 2016).…”

Rendering territory (in)visible

“…Land uses were originally restricted to agricultural purposes, and land could not be legally sold nor urbanized. Even after a reform in 1992 introduced drastic legal changes, the commodification of ejido land still depends on the consent of a majority of the Ejidatarixs, the members of the ejido committee (Varley and Salazar 2021). This unique form of territorial regulation thus represents a major obstacle to urbanization and land use change.…”