What is the main reason a government might use escheat?

The main reason a government might use escheat is to ensure that all properties have an owner. Escheat is a legal process through which unclaimed or abandoned property reverts to the state when there are no legal heirs or claimants. This mechanism is important because it prevents land and property from remaining in a state of limbo, which could lead to neglect and decreased value of the property. By facilitating the transfer of ownership back to the government, escheat allows for better management and potential redistribution of land, ensuring that property does not go uncared for and is available for productive use or redevelopment.

Other options, while they may touch on related aspects of property and government, do not address the primary purpose of escheat directly. Collecting taxes is typically not a function of escheat, as the process relates more to ownership and property rights than to taxation. Encouraging land development and preventing overreach pertain to broader policy goals rather than the specific legal mechanism of escheat itself.