An Influential Economist Has a Market Solution for Resolving Tensions Over Mining in Peru

  • De Soto wants to list indigenous property rights on exchanges
  • Radical idea has support of at least some communities, parties
Hernando de SotoPhotographer: Sebastian Castaneda/Pool/Getty Images
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Community conflicts have been the Achilles’ heel of Peruvian mining for decades, holding back multibillion-dollar investments and disrupting giant copper mines.

Now a local economist-turned-politician is touting a novel approach to resolving tensions once and for all -- listing indigenous property rights on exchanges to either make communities project partners or give them market value compensation.