"African Land Reform Policies: The Case of Sierra Leone": Commentt
评论了Barrows关于土地私有化并非发展瓶颈解决方案的观点，指出其未解决私有化如何实现的核心问题，且提出的替代方案并非真正的替代。
In a recent note published in this Journal, Richard L. Barrows states that land tenure is not an obvious solution to development bottlenecks when the costs, as well as the benefits, are considered [Barrows 1974, p. 406]. After criticizing alleged arguments for individualized tenure, he proceeds to argue that there are alternatives which will yield the same (gross) benefits as individualized tenure but without as much of the accompanying costs. This note contends that (a) even though there are alternatives to individualization, those of Barrows are not alternatives to individualization of land tenure as such, and (b) his note does not address the central issues in African land reform policies in general or as they relate to Sierra Leone in particular. Barrows' argument is unfortunate mainly because he does not tackle the crucial issue of how individualization is to be achieved. If individualization is achieved by freedom of contract between individual owners of land, with government policy designed to minimize contract costs, ensure competition, improve or set up institutions providing information, and enforce contracts, then some of Barrows' criticisms of individualized tenure do not arise. Barrows also does not seem to appreciate that some of his arguments against individualization are either irrelevant to the issue and/or can be applied to many other aspects of the economic environment of the decision-makers about whom he is concerned.