This book grew out of my dissertation, which in turn reflected my concern about tropical deforestation in Southeast Asia. In 1994 I visited the region's leading timber-exporting states-the philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia-to learn more about their forests and forestry policies. Unlike some observers, I believed that these governments were wise to authorize logging on at least a limited scaie, and to convert a portion of their forests into agricultural land, The United States had done much the same thing in an earlier era, using its abundant forests to spur development; why should not developing states today make a similar choice?
1. Introduction: Three Puzzles
2. The Problem of Resource Booms
3. Explanining Institutional Breakdown
4. The Philippines: The Legal Slaughter of the Forests
5. Sabah, Malaysia: A New State of Affairs
6. Sarawak, Malaysia: An Almost Uncontrollable Instinct
7. Indonesia: Putting the Forests to "Better Use"
8. Conclusion: Rent Seeking and Rent Seizing