Monitor | Two steps that would prove Beijing is serious about reform

At their first Politburo meeting earlier this month, China's incoming leaders pledged to boost domestic consumer demand, promote urbanisation and enhance social welfare provision.

If they are serious, there are two key reforms they could make that would go a long way to achieving all three goals. They should give China's peasants legal title to the land they farm, and they should scrap the country's hukou system of household registration.

Granting farmers full title to their fields would be a logical progression from the measures introduced over recent years to strengthen land rights.

Between 1998 and 2007 Beijing passed a trio of laws giving farmers greater security of tenure. Today, in theory, they enjoy land-use rights for renewable 30-year periods with the ability to lease out their land if they choose.

And just last month, Beijing introduced new rules aimed at increasing compensation for farmers whose land is seized by local governments for property development.

But while these steps have encouraged investment in agriculture and boosted rural incomes, they fall far short of full ownership.