Abstract/Summary

This working paper investigates the dynamics of land transactions in Cambodia from 1995 to 2001, focusing on both residential and agricultural land. Drawing on official records from the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction and supplemented by qualitative field inquiries, the study reveals significant trends in formal and informal land transfers. It highlights the concentration of land purchases by urban dwellers, particularly Phnom Penh residents, and the emergence of land speculation in economically dynamic provinces such as Kandal, Sihanoukville, and Siem Reap. The paper identifies systemic issues including limited land registration, complex and costly formal procedures, and widespread tax evasion through price underreporting. Informal transactions dominate due to accessibility and affordability, often facilitated by commune chiefs. The findings underscore the uneven development of land markets, the exclusion of the rural poor from formal systems, and the implications for land governance, inequality, and tenure security. The study calls for improved cadastral systems, clearer legal frameworks, and more inclusive land policies to ensure equitable access and sustainable land management.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64202/wp.22.200207