ABSTRACT
We are concerned in this essay with the contributions of institutional economics analysis to land problems research-but not with the whole array of either. We shall limit our discussion to the public aspects of land problems - the issues of public policy and administration; and we shall accept Commons' formulation of institutional economics for the terms of reference in this aspect of the inquiry. This selective emphasis is made in the interest of both brevity and relevance. By so defining the inquiry, the task becomes reduced to more manageable proportions. Also land economics as a field of specialization derives much of its justification and usefulness from the fact that this public approach has enabled students to deal effectively with the public issues in resource policy and control.
