The ambiguous delineationoflegal rights and the lack of systematic
regulation in collective lands have contributed to the booming
informal land market where covert and disorderly competition for
land rent differentials prevails. In the name of promoting local
growth, these informal land development projects are carried out
under the guise of land development for lawful owner-occupation.
However, the real motivation for these land development deals is
to capture the land rent differentials, in this way, enriching local
revenues. Development becomes a pre-emptive measure against
potential rent-taking by other joint nominal owners. This results
in land development for the sake of rent-taking under the guise
of land development for the economic growth of townships and
villages (Tian and Zhu, 2013).