Holding their ground : secure land tenure for the urban poor in developing countries /

Land tenure is important for rural development in developing countries. In light of rapid urbanization trends in these countries, the issue of land tenure security in urban areas is equally important. In this edited volume, experts in urban land management and policy in developing countries address this topic in the context of three specific case studies: India, Brazil, and South Africa. Chapters discussing land tenure issues in these countries are organized in three separate parts. Contributors' writing style is clear and concise, and the text flows smoothly. Chapter 15 provides a comparison of how the three countries have dealt with the demands and needs of the majority of urban families living in informal settlements, while the final chapter provides an agenda for future research on this issue. This book is carefully organized such that the introductory chapter and the two concluding ones give a splendid summary of the work presented. Since little mathematical analysis or derivation is involved, this volume is accessible to a wide audience ranging from general readers and lower-division undergraduates to faculty researchers and policy makers in the area of urban land management. M. Q. Dao Eastern Illinois University