SUMMARY

Efficient land administration requires reliable and sufficiently accurate land tenure data. Such reliable tenure database is also essential if the State is going to effectively intervene on behalf of the socially and economically disadvantaged group. Using Thailand as an example, the paper aims to illustrate that land tenure data may contribute to a better functioning land market and can be instrumental to improved delivery of pro-poor land policies. While important, Developing countries need to consider the cost-effective approaches in developing and updating land tenure databases. Investment in data collection needs to carefully consider the use-values of data and information compiled. This requires clarity over the users of land tenure data as well as the purpose of usage. Not only will this throw light on the types of information to be collected which will increase our understanding the land tenure system, but also raise issues of the capacity of those who will be responsible for collection, compilation and use. This is an aspect often overlooked in the context of Developing Countries where there area strong tendencies for land-related agencies to place emphasis on sophisticated technologies which may result in under-investment in the building the human capacities to handle those systems