Institutions play a very crucial role in service delivery in Africa. The three papers in this issue explore the role of various institutions, both public and private, in delivering efficient services to promote economic growth. The first paper by Bold and Svensson is on Policies and Institutions...

This paper analyzes the influence of social capital on the farmers' perception of the soil erosion problem and the level of investments in soil conservation in marginal areas of Kenya. It uses data from a survey of 321 households in Machakos and Taita-Taveta Districts. A Heckman's two-step model...

This paper evaluates the farmers perception of the soil erosion problem, and identifies and analyses social capital elements that motivate households to actively participate in soil conservation in agricultural production process. The data used in the study was generated using a structured...