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This paper reviews the studies of property institutions that have been undertaken by researchers affiliated with the International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA) since 1980. Particular attention is given to the systems studies and an ongoing study of the impacts of trypanosomiasis control on property institutions. Past and current studies by other workshop participants are mentioned but not reviewed in any detail. The majority of the completed studies have been concerned with two fundamental questions: (1) How do property institutions affect the use and management of resources? (2) How do property institutions act as obstacles or create opportunities for the adoption of new technologies? These questions follow from the centre's objectives of developing technologies and promoting policies to expand the production of livestock products while conserving the base of natural resources. Two other questions have also been considered by ILCA scientists: (3) How does the structure of government affect property institutions? (4) How do changes in economic and technical conditions affect resource use and property institutions? The relationships between the variables that are hypothesized and tested, and the geographical locations of the various studies is illustrated in this study.
