What sort of rights are entailed in the ownership of private property? The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states that
private property [shall not] be taken for public use, without just compensation ; this has been read to imply that the government may take private property if it provides
just compensation.
This provision has been used by the government to compel citizens to sell their property in order to clear space to build public roads, parks, or even commercial spaces. But these public benefits come at a cost and, now, those who have lost land or the physical or economic use of their land are fighting back. This debate is explored in Private Property Rights, an objective guide that will enhance readers’ understanding of this pivotal issue.