大象传媒

Ensuring property rights for the world's poor could unlock trillions in 鈥榙ead capital鈥�. According to Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto, the value of extralegal property globally exceeds 10 trillion dollars. Nobody has ever disputed that property rights matter for investment: experts point to a direct correlation between a nation鈥檚 wealth and having an adequate property rights system. This is because real estate is a form of capital and capital raises economic productivity and thus creates wealth. Mr de Soto's understanding 鈥� that title frees up credit, turning 鈥榙ead capital鈥� into 鈥榣ive capital鈥� 鈥� has prompted governments in other countries to undertake large-scale property-titling campaigns.

Voting for the 51st Thing has now closed. The winning 鈥渢hing鈥� will be revealed on Saturday 28 October 2017.

Producer: Ben Crighton
Editors: Richard Knight and Richard Vadon

(Image: Hernando de Soto, Credit: Getty Images)