I am primarily interested in issues related to property rights, the evolution of these rights, and economic development issues in Africa. Much of my recent work also considers the role enterpreneurs play in poverty alleviation.
Articles
State Power, Entrepreneurship and Coffee: The Rwandan Experience, Mercatus Policy Series (2007)
In the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, Paul Kagame’s new government embarked upon a...
The Business of Reconciliation: Entrepreneurship and Commercial Activity in Post-Conflict Rwanda, Economic Affairs (2007)
In post-conflict Rwanda trade and enterprise are leading to increased levels of co-operation among former...
Community-Based Natural Resource Management and Poverty Alleviation in Namibia: A Case Study, Mercatus Policy Series (2007)
In 1996, the Namibian government amended legislation to give local people rights to manage wildlife...
Seeds of Hope: Agricultural Technologies and Poverty Alleviation in Rural South Africa, Mercatus Policy Series (2006)
Despite having the largest economy in Africa, many of South Africa’s citizens grapple with poverty....
The Effects of Property Titling in Langa Township, South Africa, Mercatus Policy Series (2006)
This paper explores the role titling programs play in alleviating poverty in a township outside...
Books & Monographs
Paths to Property: Approaches to Institutional Change in International Development (with Paul D. Aligica) (2007)
Sub-Saharan Africa has received billions of dollars in foreign aid over the last fifty years...
Contributions to Books
Property Rights and Resource Conflict in Sudan, Realizing Property Rights (2006)
The genocidal conflict in the western region of Sudan- Darfur-is often characterized as an ethnic...
Popular Press
"Economics in Many Lessons: A better brew for Rwanda" (with Donald J. Boudreaux), Pittsburgh Herald-Tribune (2007)
This editorial discusses some of the benefits that have flowed from the liberalization of Rwanda's...
Unpublished Papers
The Legal Empowerment of the Poor: Titling and poverty alleviation in post-apartheid South Africa, ExpressO (2008)
The Commission on the Legal Empowerment of the Poor was created in 2005 to promote...
A New Call of the Wild: Community-Based Natural Resource Management in Namibia, ExpressO (2007)
The Namibian government is currently addressing twin goals of environment protection and rural economic development...
Presentations
Property Rights and Incentives in Africa, EconTalk, The Library of Economics and Liberty (2007)
In this podcast I discuss some of my field work over the past three years,...
Other
Blocking Legal Evolution and Paying the Price: Property and Conflict in the Nigerian Highlands, ExpressO (2005)
This article examines current high levels of violent conflict in Plateau State in central Nigeria...