## Cadasters, Asset Tangibility, and Growth

_IMF Working Papers, February 27, 2026_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Cadasters, Asset Tangibility, and Growth](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2026/02/26/cadasters-asset-tangibility-and-growth-574319)

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## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Can Sever
- Published: February 27, 2026
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229039628.001

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### Background
- Cadasters—records of land and property ownership—constitute an important pillar of a country’s institutional landscape by enabling the assignment of property rights.
- The paper examines the impact of cadasters on long-term economic growth by identifying a specific channel in this link: asset tangibility.
- Hypothesis: the more a firm’s assets are tangible, the more relevant cadasters become.

### Data and methodology
- Uses a cross-country dataset on cadasters together with granular data from industry panels over the last six decades.
- Analysis focuses on industry-level variation in asset tangibility to identify the channel through which cadasters affect growth.

### Key findings
- The development of cadasters fosters long-term growth, particularly in industries with high asset tangibility.
- Higher investment in industries with high asset tangibility, resulting from stronger cadasters, contributes to the observed growth pattern.
- The growth impact of cadasters is more pronounced in:
  - countries that lack strong cadasters, such as in Sub-Saharan Africa; and
  - countries with typically more investment-conducive legal systems.
- The findings suggest that cadastral reforms can help stimulate investment and sustain long-term growth in many developing economies.

### Policy implications and recommendations
- Cadastral reforms are a policy lever to stimulate investment, especially in industries with high asset tangibility.
- Priority for cadastral development may be particularly high in regions and countries with weak existing cadasters, including Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Complementary improvements in legal systems that are investment-conducive can amplify the growth benefits of cadasters.

### Publication and metadata
- Author: Can Sever
- Date: February 27, 2026
- Series: Working Paper No. 2026/034
- Volume: 2026
- Issue: 034
- Pages: 33
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229039628.001
- Stock No: WPIEA2026034
- ISBN: 9798229039628
- ISSN: 1018-5941

*Source: IMF Working Papers — "Cadasters, Asset Tangibility, and Growth" by Can Sever, February 27, 2026.*

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2026/02/26/cadasters-asset-tangibility-and-growth-574319_