Title: Institutions: top down or bottom up? : design and reform of institutions in LDCs and transition economies

Authors: Easterly, William

Place: [Nashville, TN

Publisher: American economic association]

Year: 2008

Journal: American economic review

Volume: Vol. 98, No. 2

PAGE: 95--99

Subject: Rural Decentralization and Local Governance

Keywords: legislation, customary law, governance, development policy, land rights, land tenure, institution building

Abstract: This article poses the question whether top-down institutional change is desirable, using the case of land tenure reform versus customary rights. It recommends adopting an agenda of gradual reform that recognizes the constraints of bottom up evolution instead of delusory top down attempts.

URL: http://dri.fas.nyu.edu/docs/IO/11783/Institutions.pdf

Document type: Portal