Corrupt Practice in Land Administration: Analysis of the Impacts towards Development’s Prospects

Abstract

Purpose: This article examines corrupt practices in land administration and their impacts on economic, social, and institutional development, with particular attention to developing countries, especially in Africa. It seeks to understand how corruption in land governance affects tenure security, social inclusion, and sustainable development prospects.

 Method: A qualitative and analytical descriptive approach is adopted, based on a review of international legal instruments, reports from multilateral organizations, institutional documents, and interdisciplinary academic literature. The analysis focuses on key stages of land administration, including registration, titling, valuation, land use, and planning, identifying critical points where corruption is most prevalent.

 Findings: The findings indicate that land corruption occurs through bribery, title forgery, double allocation of land, manipulation of land valuation, and undue influence in land-use and investment decisions. These practices undermine tenure security, exacerbate social inequalities, intensify land-related conflicts, harm the environment, and restrict access to land rights for vulnerable groups, particularly women and the poor.

 Originality and Value: The study adds value by systematizing evidence on the development impacts of land corruption and by highlighting the importance of transparency, accountability, social participation, and institutional reform in land administration systems.