Abstract

GARCIA RUIZ, Luis J.. Social Demands and Imperfect Ownership Rights in Veracruz: the Promotion of Long Leases (1760-1811). Secuencia [online]. 2015, n.93, pp.28-49. ISSN 2395-8464.

From the last third of the 18th century onwards, the town hall, the Novo-Hispanic army and the traders’ consulate in Veracruz were engaged in a debate about the policies that would have to be implemented to address the shortage of population and the backwardness of agriculture. They raised the need for land in mortmain linked to entailed estates to be ceded for long lease, and they not rest until the Higuera estate transferred one of its properties to the municipality so that it could subsequently be divided in a long lease among the farm workers. These imperfect property rights were consistent with the agrarian individualism projects and the generation of revenue through agriculture, industry and trade. For this reason, local political actors sought the creation of an institutional framework to promote the cession of land through long-lease censuses.

Keywords : property; long lease; society; agriculture; reform.