El Departamento de Economía de la Facultad de Administración y Economía de la Universidad Diego Portales invita a la presentación del paper: “The grievances of a failed reform: Chilean land reform and conflict with indigenous communities”. (Dany Jaimovich – Felipe Toledo -Concha)

Expositora: Dany Jaimovich – Universidad de Talca

Abstract

Land reforms have been one of the main institutional changes in most developing countries. Nevertheless, when these reforms fail, or are reverted, the social and economic issues that were supposed to be addressed may be aggravated. This paper analyzes the persistent effects of the Chilean land reform (1962-1973) on the current indigenous self-determination conflict. This extensive land redistribution process, in which indigenous communities were actively involved, was later reverted in a counter-reform process following a military coup. Using a detailed plot-level database we find consistent evidence suggesting that in areas involved in the land reform conflict is more intense. Our estimates imply that expropriate plots were at least ten times more likely to be invaded and attacked between 1990 and 2016. This effect is larger in plots where indigenous groups had direct participation during the reform.

Combining climatic and political historical shocks, we implement instrumental variable estimates that confirm the main results. We also find evidence that land invasions induced by these shocks in 1970 have persistent effects in current conflict. Other potential channels underlying our results are the grievances of the counter-reform and the development of intensive forestry plantations that followed.

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