Does Property Ownership Go Against the Common Good?

A new book argues that yes, the priorities of private property often trump those of democracy, community, free expression and life outside of the marketplace.

1 minute read

March 21, 2010, 11:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur


David Bollier reviews Property Outlaws, an new book from Eduardo Moisés Peñalver and Sonia K. Katyal, professors of law at Cornell Law School and Fordham Law School, respectively.

Bollier writes, "The pantheon of property law generally honors the great virtues of private ownership - while making the case that the public benefits from such arrangements.

Unfortunately, the benefits to the public are often more nominal than real."

"As practiced, in short, property law tends to expand private prerogatives and suppress public benefits."

Friday, March 19, 2010 in On The Commons

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