AS DEMANDS ON PUBLIC FUNDS HAVE GROWN, GOVERNMENTS HAVE INCREASINGLY TURNED TO A TOOL CALLED VALUE CAPTURE TO HELP FINANCE COSTLY TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE. VALUE CAPTURE STRATEGIES ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO CAPITALIZE ON RISING PROPERTY VALUES DUE TO PUBLIC INVESTMENTS IN TRANSIT. SPECIFICALLY, VALUE CAPTURE CORRECTS FOR MARKET EXTERNALITIES BY ENSURING THAT LANDOWNERS HELP PAY FOR THE TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT INDIRECTLY BENEFITS THEM THROUGH INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES.
Latin America has made substantial progress with regard to its transportation infrastructure, but a lot remains to be done. The quality of infrastructure is one of the key components of global competitiveness and the lack of sufficient investment is holding the region back on growth, trade, and the lessening of poverty and inequality.
By allowing countries to raise differential taxation on “like goods” based on different methods of production, the WTO could create a level playing field, which would allow consumers to make informed decisions between industrially produced goods and Fair Trade products on a more equal price basis. Although this would imply a distortion of the free market economy, it would help the WTO achieve its declared goal of higher standards of livings through sustainable development.
Over the last few decades Bangladesh has made huge strides in improving its sanitation coverage through an innovative community based approach. Much of this improvement has come from reducing open defecation and shifting the population to a shared latrine system. Going forward, however, the sanitation policies that enabled this success– relying on decentralized service delivery and extensive participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – may prevent further mobility up the sanitation ladder.
AFTER BEING DIVIDED FOR PART OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, BERLIN IS NOW RUNNING AN INTEGRATED ADN WELL-FUNCTIONING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. THE GERMAN CAPITAL OFFERS MANY URBAN DEVELOPMENT LESSONS TO OTHER CITIES, INCLUDING IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD.
BY PROFESSOR WILLIAM A. DOUGLAS POET LAUREATE EMERITUS
In every developing nation, We see rural-to-urban migration Some say the city’s lights lure with such charm, That you can’t keep the peasants down on the farm. But for migrants, city life’s not always pleasant – It’s the lesser evil, for the migrating peasant.
The Senegalese city of Dakar made headlines this year due to its efforts to launch the region’s first municipal bond. Adjunct Professor Jeremy Gorelick shares his thoughts on why this transaction is important, and how it can help to shape the future growth and development of cities across the Global South.
At first glimpse, Priboj, a failing industrial town in a mountainous corner of Serbia, leaves the impression of political apathy, lethargy, and a sense of lifelessness. By visiting “Priboj,” the town’s communal Facebook page, however, one enters a realm of intelligent ideas, fresh news, cultural events, curious discussions, and public debates.
