Mike co-authored the paper that laid down the foundations of Australia’s water rights reform, redefining rights into property that could be traded like land and dividends that would vary with water supplies. It is this paper, with its underlying goal of robustness, that has lead to en explosion in water trading in Australia, with proportionate increases in efficiency in water use and wealth for those who hold water rights. (Those are farmers, btw.)

Besides Mike’s research on the creation and evolution of institutions (see also Torrens land titling system, LLCs and the Tinbergen’s Law [what?! No wikipedia entry!]), we also discussed his role as a public intellectual — a role that I am also pursuing. It was very encouraging for me to hear of Mike’s successes.

He also recommended the government’s National Water Initiative for clear and relevant information on water policy in Australia, and elsewhere.