Property is a concept that is seemingly simple to understand yet continually evolving in the face of cultural change and technological advance. Property Rights in Contemporary Governance examines the many meanings of property, how they have changed over time, and the roles they play in policy, society, and law. With its deeply interdisciplinary approach, the book offers perspectives from economics, environmental studies, history, law, philosophy, public administration, and public policy. The contributors discuss such topics as the origin of the corporation, the role of the takings law, the development of legal protections for financial instruments in nineteenth-century France, the impact of climate change, the shifts in philosophical conceptions of property required by advances in intellectual property rights, and the influence of new technologies, including drones. This is a comprehensive and thoughtful exploration of how our diverse understandings of property impact real-world governing strategies.

List of Illustrations Preface Introduction: Property, Governance, and a Plan for the Book Staci M. Zavattaro, Gregory R. Peterson, and Ann E. Davis Section I: Historical Roots of Property Rights 1. Is There a History of Property? Periodization of Property Regimes and Paradigms Ann E. Davis 2. Law versus Democracy: Rewriting the History of Property Law in the Early Twentieth Century R. Ben Brown 3. Early Roadway Construction and Establishing the Norm of Just Compensation for Takings Jill Fraley 4. The Honest Speculator: Property, State, and Financial Regulation in Restoration France Tyson Leuchter Section II: Contemporary Explorations of Property Rights and Interpretations 5. Ecological Economics, Property Rights, and the Environmental "Meta- commons" Donald G. Richards 6. Changing Historic Concepts of Water Rights and Water Ownership Karen Z. Consalo 7. An Exploration of Coastal Property Rights in the United States under Conditions of Sea Level Rise Chad J. McGuire 8. Using Property Rights as a Metaphor to Understand Personal Place Brand Identity Staci M. Zavattaro 9. Intellectual Property and Fairness across Borders: A Capabilities Account Gregory R. Peterson 10. NIMBY, NAMBY, and UAVS: The Drone Revolution Timothy M. Ravich Conclusion: The Future of Property Gregory R. Peterson, Ann E. Davis, and Staci M. Zavattaro Contributors Index