A Critique of the Legal and Philosophical Case for Rent Control

Rent control is an economic abomination. It diverts investments away from residential rent units, it leads to their deterioration, it is responsible for urban decay such as in the South Bronx, it does not help poor tenants, it is a horrendous means of income redistribution. Yet this economic regulation is beloved of intellectuals (hot beds of pro rent control sentiment are Berkeley, Ann Arbor and Cambridge) particularly in the legal and philosophical communities. The present article is dedicated to an exploration and rejection of the arguments in behalf of rent control which emanate from this source.     

Rural Population Growth, 1950–1990: The Roles of Human Capital, Industry Structure, and Government Policy

Human capital raises rural incomes, but this effect is swamped by higher returns to human capital in urban markets. This leads to "brain drain" from rural areas. Populations grow more rapidly in rural counties that have a diversified employment base. Farm population grows faster (or declines more slowly) in counties with relatively high farm income, and nonfarm populations grow faster in counties with relatively high nonfarm income. However, higher farm incomes lead to slower nonfarm population growth and vice versa. Rural county government services financed by local taxes or debt have neutral or negative effects on population growth.     

Triple jump about urban land potential release in China

Recent two decades, the great changes take place in China, especially in land use area. After the marketization, the urban land potential of China releases gradually. Three models in this paper show the three stages of reforming land use system. This paper will give a clear picture of urban land use in China that spans nearly thirty years.     

论城市文化资源的资本转化

城市化资源系统是一个复杂集合体。其集聚性与分散性同时并存；多层次性与整体性同时并存；物态型与非物态型同时并存。我们必须坚持因地制宜、整体与重点相结合、资本转化利用与资源保护相结合、聚集与整合相统一、经济效益与社会效益并举的原则，通过项目开发转化模式、化资源的单体开发转化模式、化节庆开发转化模式、运营商开发转化模式等具体途径。实现其城市资源的资本转化和价值增值。     

现代城市管理若干理论述评

近年来国内外影响较大的现代城市管理理论有：生态城市管理理论、新城市主义管理理论、城市营销理论、经营城市理论、城市竞争力理论和数字城市理论等等。现代城市管理论的繁荣促进了城市管理科学向更深、更高层次的发展，但是仍然有许多不足。当代城市管理，尤其是我国的城市管理，理论研究有余而实证研究不足。未来城市管理的研究必将呈现进一步综合化、系统化的发展趋势。     

Demand‐side housing policy in Costa Rica: a response to the housing deficit

The purpose of this study was to establish what the housing needs of Costa Rica are and to assess what policies have been implemented to respond to their housing deficit. In order to answer these questions, a combined methodology consisting of primary and secondary data was used. Using open‐ended questions and a topic schedule, face‐to‐face interviews with Costa Rican housing authorities were conducted at the interviewee's work place in Costa Rica in May 2003. The most recent secondary data available in the country was used to compute the housing deficit and to study the effects of demographics on current housing needs. Sources of the secondary data were the Costa Rica Ministry of Housing and Human Settlements, and the National Institute of Statistics and Census. The Costa Rican government has made great progress in reforming the housing finance system in order to meet the housing demand of its citizens. In 2002, Costa Rica had a 75.6% home ownership rate. Yet, even in light of the housing system's current success, many social, economic and political barriers threaten to undermine its accomplishments and the peoples’ ability to obtain safe and affordable housing. The paper considers the strengths and weaknesses of the current housing finance system as well as the government strategies for addressing difficulties.     

搞好中小城市绿化建设的几点思考

作者根据自身的实践 ,认为中小城市绿化建设应树立四种意识 :一是树立“规划见绿”理念 ,对城市绿化也要编制总体规划和详细规划 ,并构思布局一批特色绿化工程 ;二要强化“空间绿化”意识 ,以城市道路轴线 ,构建绿化网络 ,扩展绿色绿量 ;三要树立“精品绿化”意识 ,提高绿化质量 ,打造草坪、花坛、公园、街道等名牌 ,四要树立“市场经营”意识 ,建立起多元联动、全社会参与的城市绿化投融资新机制。     

南京市重大危险源监管体系中的物流对策分析

根据南京市重大危险源普查报告,分析了南京市重大危险源的基本状况和监管中存在的问题,以提高应急物流反应能力为目标,分别从监管模式的改进、监管政策保障措施建设和重大危险源监管体系建设等三个方面提出了提高南京市重大危险源监管水平的对策措施。