23 February, 2010
For Immediate Release

NEW DELHI, INDIA - Centre for Civil Society (CCS) is proud to announce the release of the 2010 International Property Rights Index (IRPI), which measures the intellectual and physical property rights of 125 nations from around the world. This year, sixty-two international organizations, including Centre for Civil Society, partnered with the Property Rights Alliance in Washington, DC and its Hernando de Soto Fellowship program to produce the fourth annual IPRI.

The IPRI uses three primary areas of property rights to create a composite score: Legal and Political Environment (LP), Physical Property Rights (PPR), and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). Most importantly, the IPRI emphasizes the great economic differences between countries with strong property rights and those without. Nations falling in the first quintile enjoy an average national GDP per capita of $35, 676; almost double that of the second quintile with an average of $20, 087. The third, fourth, and fifth quintiles average $9,375, $4,699, and $4,437 respectively.

With regard to India, property rights continue to be a challenge. Dr Parth J Shah, President of CCS says, “India gets 5.5 out of 10 and ranks 53 among the 125 nations in the index. Among the BRIC countries, Brazil and China rank at 64 and Russia at 88. India’s property governance structure is the best among BRIC countries.”

However, Dr Shah reminds that we should not become complacent. Nandigram, Singur and many of the grassroot uprisings tell us that all is not well in the way India manages citizens’ right to property and the transfer of that property.

Hernando de Soto, whose work in property rights lead to the inception of the IPRI, commented on the 2010 publication: “The fourth edition of the IPRI reveals encouraging signs of improvement in some countries, while also bringing attention to disturbing trends in others.”

The International Property Rights Index will provide the public, researchers and policymakers, from across the globe, with a tool for comparative analysis and future research on global property rights. The Index seeks to assist underperforming countries to develop robust economies through an emphasis on sound property law.

To download the full report click here. For more information, or to view the 2010 IPRI in its entirety, please visit www.propertyrightsalliance.org

CONTACT:
Baishali Bomjan
Email: baishali@ccs.in

K-36, Hauz Khas Enclave, New Delhi 110016 India
Phone: +91 11 2653-7456 / 2652-1882 Fax: +91 11 2651-2347
Websites: www.ccs.in / www.schoolchoice.in / www.jeevika.org / www.azadi.me