Decentralized public farmland conveyance: Rental rights auctioning in Ukraine

This study examines whether decentralized auctioning of public agricultural land results in higher prices comparison to via a centralized agency. Decentralization reforms Ukraine, first, mandated local governments manage communal and later transferred their jurisdictions. We compare the resulting centrally locally organized auctions evaluate land-use concentration affected auction outcomes. Using unique datasets on from 2014 2020, we find that plots auctioned by rural municipalities generate more competitive rental outcomes with prices. In addition, is found negatively affect markups. Based results, discuss policy implications for management weak institutional settings.