ABSTRACT
In capitalist societies land consists of much more than its topography, drainage and fixed improvements. There are rights associated with its ownership. As Pearce (1980: 118) says: 'it is more correct to refer to the set of land rights in aland parcel as being the object of ownership than merely the land itself as a physical entity', because it is from the ability to exploit the land, as conferred by rights of ownership, that power, financial benefit and pleasure are obtained - and these rights are subject to continuous dispute and redefinition. Indeed, the ability to define and protect private monopoly rights over particular parcels of land provides the basis of land value in a capitalist system. Without the power to alienate the land from other users, the land would be of little value to the owner. Equally essential are the rights to use and improve the land, and freely to seIl or transfer to others all or part of the rights attached to it (see Newby et al. 1978; Braden 1982). Several recent trends have increased demands upon the state to restriet certain of the owner's rights. In the agricultural context these indude the substantial rise in land prices since 1950, effectively transferring wealth from non-owners to owners, and growing concern over the external public costs arising out of the actions of private owners, most notably in the fields of environment al damage and pollution.
