Developing the Market for Land

Government’s land acquisition has come increasingly under fire from both the courts and the people whose lands are being acquired. This article argues that the way land is being acquired in India is contrary to the principles that govern a market-based society. It shows the close similarities in how land was acquired in two examples, one in USA and one in India. Both had implications for how the practice of land acquisition has evolved. The article also suggests a method of resolving the problem.