The increasing power and ubiquity of mobile wireless devices is enabling real-time information delivery for many diverse applications. A crucial question is how to allocate finite network resources efficiently and fairly despite the uncertainty common in highly dynamic mobile ad hoc networks. We propose a set of routing protocols, Self-Balancing Supply/Demand (SBSD), to address that question. The SBSD model is based on economic principles; the supply of requested information is increased (by being available at more nodes) in accordance with the number of network participants requesting it. Each replica of a message is assigned a utility value that reflects the estimated network congestion caused by all replicas of that message. This utility function is designed to reflect the expected changes in network congestion over time. We derive mathematical proofs to demonstrate properties of SBSD, including maximum flooding depth, fair allocation of bandwidth over competing messages, and the relationship between utility and network congestion. We also present simulation results for scenarios including random and vehicular mobility as well as extensions for high-density environments. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]