In contrast to literature which focuses on the how collective action problems inhibit the supply of efficient institutions, this paper uses dynamic stochastic general equilibrium methods to study the demand for institutional innovation. Focusing on the innovation of alienabile land rights in the West African Sahel, this microeconomic approach offers several contributions to the theory of institutional innovation.

The paper looks at efforts being taken by the Ministry of Lands and Valuation in Malawi towards developing a Land Information System which would not only act as the basis for all future land related projects, but will provide the basic data for the review of the National Land Policy currently being undertaken by Government.

Land affected by a high water table displays waterlogging and salinity effects. This causes costs to farmers through additional land management problems, loss of soil productivity and results in a decline of the farm's capital value. A multi-period mathematical model is developed to investigate best land and financial management strategies for such farms. Water tables rise mainly due to ground water import caused by high recharge in the surrounding parts of the catchment.

This report presents the results from the first annual Louisiana Rural Land Market Survey. The survey was designed to collect detailed information from rural real estate professionals regarding market conditions in their areas. Results of this study suggest that land values vary by area of the state and the primary commodity grown on the tract. Substantial variation in land value within areas and by parish suggests a number of factors affect rural land values and markets. Further research will be designed to measure the effects of these various factors on rural real estate markets.