Guidelines for establishing and administering land development agencies in the developing countries

Rapid urbanization in LDC"s has fostered competition for urban land. This inflates prices, encourages land speculation, distorts urban development patterns, frustrates the public interest, and denies access to secure land tenure for the low-income urban population. This publication, part of the Ideas and Methods Exchange Series, reviews key issues of concern and recommendations and guidelines for the establishment and administration of LDA"s. The public sector influences the private market primarily through three basic activities: administration such as applying the negative controls of zoning and building bylaws; taxation; and direct intervention, e.g., the power of eminent domain. This report contains (1) an examination of the typology of land development agencies currently operating in the LDC"s, (2) a discussion of special issues concerning the LDA, (3) identification of planning issues which need to be considered, and (4) suggestions regarding the legislative configuration of an LDA which will implement the key concepts. Bibliography included.