Urban land reform is one of the most important constituents of China's whole economic reform programme launched in the late 1970s. Through a series of reforms, urban land markets have emerged rapidly. This paper aims to analyse the evolution of urban land reform, to discuss the structure of urban land markets, to identify the principal constraints in the urban land market and to propose relevant recommendations for its improvement in the future. The methodology employed for this research is based on the structure and agency theory of the development process and the paper relies on a comprehensive review of recent research on the urban land market in China.

No abstract

a b s t r a c tCities around the world are under pressure from population growth, frenetic global economic restructuring, and climatic perturbations. Some, like London, attract an excess of speculative, momentum or tax-informed inward investment to finance their intensification. Provincial towns, on the other hand, which sustain extractive metropolii, can wither without capital or talent. Sensible planning and calibrated regional investment is the antidote to polarisation but confronts an apparent 'smart' or 'sustainable' conundrum. Grandiose, technical megaprojects like Songdo or Masdar cities and sprawling, disconnected estates are an anathema. We articulate a putative smart and sustainable solution ('smart-SUR') with 'institutional', 'project' and innovative 'funding' components and explore mega-urban regeneration projects in the UK and Holland. Smart-SUR has geographical, procedural and teleological aspects. Its mechanism involves local engagement, institutional strengthening, tight project screening and innovative regenerative funding. Its outcome are inclusive, measured, and coordinated transformations which 'sweat' existing assets, counter the long-tail of educational failure, and catalyse productive local innovation.

This paper examines the urban development process in post-socialist cities of Budapest, Prague and Warsaw in the context of economic globalisation and societal transformation. Several factors have helped to shape the post-socialist cities of central Europe since the end of the 1980s. These include political transformation, economic change, restitution, privatisation, price liberalisation and decentralisation of local government. It is argued that local government administrative and planning structures have been ill prepared in meeting the requirements of international investment capital in a co-ordinated and effective manner. Institutional constraints has promoted an organic form of urban development primarily determined through the international demand for, and supply of, commercial and retail space.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse the methods of housing finance adopted by the low income and informal groups in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach -A survey of 300 households in selected areas (low-income/informal) of Jos Metropolis, Nigeria, was carried out, concerning the methods of housing finance used for building and home improvement. Findings -The survey showed that 75 per cent of the households utilized traditional methods of financing and 25 per cent using modern methods. Research limitations/implications -Based on data collected from the survey, the research serves as a basis for further research into traditional methods of housing finance in developing countries. Practical implications -The analysis of traditional financing methods highlights the range and structure of the traditional methods of financing in operation in informal and low income areas of Jos Metropolis, Nigeria. For example, informal and customary/traditional methods (Esusu/Asusu, Age grade association, Men's Revolving Loan Association, Social club contribution among others), of financing appear to be very effective housing finance methods. Social implications -The paper shows that In the absence of formal institutional financing methods, strengthening the community-based social network through formalisation and empowerment for housing finance becomes vital. Originality/value -It is argued that it is possible to utilise and formalise these traditional methods of housing finance, in order to enhance access to finance for housing development in low-income urban areas in developing countries.