Independent economic regulation: A reassessment of its role in sustainable development

The established ‘standard’ model of economic regulation is characterised by independent economic regulators undertaking specialised tasks. There is a clear perception that the roles and responsibilities of regulators are and should be reduced to the execution of the core function, i.e. economic regulation. We argue that this needs to be reassessed in the context of sustainable development in which the integration of economic, social and environmental policy objectives are fundamental. The established model is particularly confronted by problems of regulatory policy indivisibility (social, economic and environmental matters are intertwined at technical levels) and information asymmetry (regulators often have more knowledge of environmental and social effects of economic regulation than government). We propose a ‘revised standard’ model in which economic regulators are more clearly integrated into the regulatory state's system of governance. Economic regulators retain their independent core specialism but at the same time are encouraged to use their knowledge and expertise to address the social and environmental implications of their core decisions. This is achieved not by extending their decision making powers but by encouraging and facilitating a direct engagement by regulators with the appropriate public authorities on social and environmental decision making. The onus is not only on regulators to engage but also on government which should welcome and encourage such engagement. Although there is some evidence in Britain that the model reflects actual practice, it needs to be more deeply and widely embedded and institutionalised. This can be achieved by high level governmental commitment including specification in sustainable development strategies and principles of good regulation.     

科学、价值与判断在环境影响评估架构中之整合

公共政策研拟,尤其是环境影响评估,不仅牵涉技术性科学层面,同时涵盖社会性价值评估与政策性决策判断。旨在探讨如何将科学、价值与判断等因素合理融合于环境影响评估作业过程中,并据此研拟一环境影响评估架构,作为中国台湾地区环保部门开发案审核依据之参考。本文所研拟之环境影响评估架构的理论基础包括社会选择理论、社会判断理论及多属性评估方法。通过社会选择理论分析环境政策制定的机制;通过社会判断理论解释科学与价值如何整合于政策制定及其可行性中;而通过多属性评估方法建立开发案评选的集体决策技术。以山坡地开发为例说明此架构在实践中的应用。     

Growth and degradation in the Orient’s ‘Las Vegas’: issues of environment in Macau

This paper argues that the rapid growth of gambling‐related tourism and urban construction in Macau has given rise to serious environmental degradation. The major environmental issues include air quality, water supply, solid waste disposal, noise prevention, heritage conservation and environmental management. The author suggests that the government in Macau should refocus this city’s development direction and commit itself to sustainable development. At the policy‐making level, there are such urgent issues as integration of environmental, economic and urban planning with community participation in decision‐making; enhancement of environmental legislation and institutions; implementing vital measures to control of the numbers of visitors; developing a mass transport system; and protecting the city’s cultural heritage.     

The Two Federal Lands of Berlin-Brandenburg: A European Region on its Way to Sustainable Development

Local decision-makers face a wide range of pressures over questions of urban development. Among these is to pursue urban economic growth, while simultaneously responding to environmental demands to reduce car usage. There is, however, a lack of empirical studies analysing urban entrepreneurialism in conjunction with car-use reduction. This paper focuses on city-centre development and regulation of retail trade in two Norwegian cities. The underlying logic is that while compact city development and concentration of commerce in the urban core are ways to reduce car usage, there are also pressures drawing shopping to the city outskirts. The paper highlights the conflicting spatial interests involved in policies for car-use reduction, as evident in discussions as to how to regulate parking throughout the urban area. The paper also shows how municipal policy for car-use reduction is affected by private actors and neighbouring municipalities. Ultimately, the cases illustrate how local decision-making is influenced by the balance of pressures for and against environmental policy. In this way, analysis of inter-municipal competition over retail trade, inhabitants and investments, provides important insights into urban policy and practice.     

Towards a synergy between ‘content’ and ‘process’ in Dutch spatial planning: the Heuvelland case

Spatial planning in the Netherlands is shifting from regulatory toward more developmental modes of planning. This paper explores the background of these changes and discusses current approaches to developmental planning, especially in rural areas. It combines views reflected in planning theory with the accumulated experiences of a project in the southern part of the Netherlands, called Heuvelland. The Heuvelland project is aimed at the mobilisation of market parties for spatial developments. It is an attempt to circumvent the path-dependency in which many current spatial innovation projects get caught up, owing to established institutional planning and policy arrangements. We argue that in order to stimulate innovation and create a new economic base for rural spatial developments, new economic actors and new public–private structures and networks must be mobilised. We consider how this can be done, taking into account the importance of sustainable regional development.     

Environmental degradation in Nigeria: implications and policy issues—a viewpoint

Sustainable development has become a global issue which now requires moving from commitment at the conceptual level into a pragmatic operational framework. Hence, environmentally sustainable development practices and policies should be an integral part of the concern of planners and decision makers. In this regard, this paper assesses major environmental problems facing Nigeria and also discusses their socio‐economic and socio‐cultural implications for the quality of life of the people. A policy framework of strategies formulated to address these problems is hereby suggested.     

The development and localisation of a foreign gated community in Beijing

The emergence of gated communities for foreign residents in large Chinese cities is the result of economic globalisation, local institutional changes, social relations and cultural globalisation. Using a case study performed in Beijing, this paper seeks to analyse the complex dynamics of foreign gated communities through a critical examination of their key actors. The history of the gated community studied here is divided into two phases: development and localisation. During the development phase, the property developer not only attracted foreign residents through building an international community but also lured Hong Kong investors through the promise of soaring rental returns fuelled by strong demand. During the localisation phase, Chinese residents gradually replaced the developer as the project’s key actors. While the Chinese residents were attracted by the idea of international community, their arrival significantly transformed the community. This paper demonstrates how the survival, character and appearance of a foreign gated community was influenced by temporally and geographically dispersed actors who were subjected to a number of economic, social and cultural forces on a global and a local scale.     

Sustainable development duties: New roles for UK economic regulators

When the utility regulators were established in the UK their primary duties and roles were focused on economic regulation – setting price controls for monopolies and promoting competition where possible. The increasing emphasis in government policy on sustainable development has led to pressures on the regulators to pay greater attention to social and environmental concerns alongside economic ones. Ofwat and Ofgem now have duties to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. Why and how did this change come about, what impact will it have on how the regulators deal with sustainable development and on the nature of regulation?     

Swedish social mix policy: a general policy without an explicit ethnic focus

Neighbourhood social mix is currently a pressing issue for both researchers and policy makers in the Western world. In an international perspective, Sweden offers an interesting case as both the structure of the housing market and the focus of the social mix policy differs from other countries’ policies. The introduction of a policy for social mixing in Sweden in 1974 was a reaction to the increasing socioeconomic segregation in the housing market. Swedish city planning and the conditions in the housing market have however changed dramatically since the policy was first introduced. This article is based on official housing policy documents and interviews with public actors. It seeks to analyse the policy makers’ understanding of Swedish social mix policy and how the policy is translated into practical planning. The overall aim is to analyse the Swedish policy in relation to similar policies in other countries, this to point at some of the existing differences, especially the different perspective on ethnic segregation. On the basis of document analysis and interviews with public actors, we come to the conclusion that the understanding and practice of the social mix policy in Sweden have been rather consistent over time. Even though Sweden has experienced increasing immigration, which has added an ethnic dimension to housing segregation, the Swedish social mix policy has remained a general policy for counteracting socioeconomic segregation, rather than ethnic segregation. This is an important difference compared to other mixing strategies in Europe and North America where ethnic mix has been, and still is, at the top of the agenda.     

基于绿色发展的城市发展质量评价研究——以江苏为例

从城镇化发展的阶段入手,提出了城市发展质量的阶段性内涵.以江苏为例,遵循绿色发展的理念,构建了涵盖经济可持续、社会文明、生态环境、宜居建设四个方面的可测评、可衡量的城市发展质量评价指标体系,探索了基于绿色优先的正向-逆向数据标准化和基于市民关注度的层次分析指标权重值方法.通过江苏各城市发展的指标值数据标准化以及指标权重计算,对江苏省各设区市和县(市)城市发展质量的单项质量以及综合质量进行了客观评价.根据江苏省城市发展质量的体检评估结果,对江苏省的城市发展提出了区域差别化发展、重点市县节点培育、宜居设施建设、环境污染治理等建议.     

Utilisation of underground pedestrian systems for urban sustainability

Underground pedestrian systems (UPS) have emerged as an urban phenomenon in the city centres of mega-cities, providing alternative walkways that are safe, accessible, efficient and pleasant for pedestrians. Despite many successful UPS in operation around the world, the application and performance of UPS are not yet well understood by local authorities. While previous studies debated the impacts on cities and people that the development of UPS would bring, an understanding of how to develop UPS to contribute to sustainable urban development, including economic viability, environmental livability and social equity, should be improved. This paper presents a detailed discussion of potential contributions and challenges in developing UPS within the context of sustainable urban development. It contains a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between UPS and urban development with regard to urban planning concepts such as the compact city, city resilience, sustainable transport and urban renewal, within the context of contemporary challenges such as the need to achieve economic sustainability, managing a non-renewable and vulnerable underground resource, and humanisation and social sustainability. It demonstrates why UPS development presents opportunities for and challenges to achieving economic viability, environmental livability and social equity, how to develop UPS so that they make effective contributions to sustainable urban development, and how the challenge of each issue has been addressed in light of the experiences of cities with UPS developments globally.     

ECONOMIC GROWTH,ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY,AND SOCIAL SERVICES: Mapping the Potential for Local Positive-Sum Strategies

ABSTRACT: This study examines how local leaders in Boulder, Colorado, perceive the linkages among environmental quality, economic development, and social policy issues. The objective is to identify the extent to which declining resources create perceptions of a zero-sum situation forcing policy trade offs and the bases for potentially reframing these issues as a positive-sum agenda. The study utilized Q methodology and cluster analysis to identify different dimensions in participant viewpoints. The most notable finding is that there are more points of consensus than of conflict among leaders. These patterns appear relatively stable over time, but the introduction of social program issues fragments existing community coalitions. The local political context now appears more fluid, more complex, and more competitive with some indication of support across sectors for positive-sum policy strategies.     

Building a GIS Platform for Sustainable Land Management: A Case Study of the City of Čačak,Serbia

The general aim of this research is to contribute to sustainable land management and urban planning practices. An approach for building an urban planning-oriented information platform that could support a sustainable (i.e. environmentally sustainable), socially responsible and economically efficient decision-making process in the future at the municipal level is proposed. The proposed information platform approach relies on and is built for the Geographic Information System (GIS) but includes basic data management principles and the standards of the Spatial Data Information (SDI) concept, namely, INSPIRE. Thus, a model with the two following technical elements for building land management and urban planning based on a general platform or database is proposed in this article: (1) a conceptual Unified Modeling Language (UML) data model for urban planning metadata and data for different types of urban plans and (2) lists of land-use classes and types at the municipal level (included in the UML data model). The proposed approach includes a land-use model and the standardization of urban planning data to build a GIS platform to better integrate various types of data (social, economic, environmental, etc.) and is based on general and detailed urban regulation plans and land governance practices in the City of ?a?ak, Republic of Serbia. Once implemented, the proposed approach is expected to create preconditions for decision making regarding future sustainable land development in ?a?ak and other municipalities in Serbia.     

In Search of the “Strategic” in Spatial Strategy Making1

In recent years, city governments and other entities concerned with urban futures have been exhorted to produce spatial strategies, indicating how their areas might develop in the future. But many of the resultant strategies do little “strategic work” in the sense of shaping future development trajectories. This paper reviews the meaning of “strategic work” in terms of mobilising attention to an urban area as a whole, and influencing the way that multiple actors involved in urban development shape their interventions. It emphasises the key judgements which those involved in promoting such strategic work have to make and discusses how the capacity for making such judgements may be cultivated among individuals, groups, and the wider political community involved in urban governance.     

BEFORE AND AFTER THE CREATIVE CITY: THE POLITICS OF URBAN CULTURAL POLICY IN AUSTIN,TEXAS

ABSTRACT: This article examines the politics and practice of urban cultural policy in Austin, Texas. I demonstrate how aspects of the local context frame how local government and cultural sector interests strive to initiate the direction of policy. While larger trends—such as Richard Florida's creative city thesis—influence cultural policy and planning, specific contextual factors including prior economic development and growth management policy, departmental organization, the forum for interaction between municipal actors and non‐governmental coalitions, and the character of the city's cultural economy mediate such trends to produce policy outcomes. As this case shows, contemporary urban cultural policy is not simply due to the rise of the creative city discourse, but is an evolving product of past policy structures and shaped by local institutions and actors.     

A tale of two regions: Strategic planning for sustainable development in East and West

Many planning and development activities fail to reflect the principles of sustainable development. This neglect is a consequence of the dominance of the growth paradigm and can be seen in both developed and developing economies. Alternative models, such as ecological modernization, provide an opportunity to promote mutually supporting economic, social and environmental development. Such models imply the need for a transformation in attitudes in order to promote sustainable strategies and the means for their implementation. Drawing on case studies in the UK (Greater Manchester) and China (the Pearl River Delta) the paper illustrates the weaknesses inherent in the traditional growth paradigm and in the resulting modes of planning. Lessons and policy guidance for the introduction of a more sustainable approach to regional and urban planning are provided from the study of the contrasting cases.     

市场经济下城市规划引导市场开发的经营

国内对城市规划实施的讨论似乎远不及对城市规划方案的重视,事实上,市政府规划部门的主要功能在于贯彻实施和实现所制订的城市规划目标.文章参照战后英国城市规划功能重点的变化,阐述经济气候和政治意识形态与城市规划功能的相关关系.在宏观意义上,城市规划是旨在引导市场实现社会目标的城市经营的工具.新加坡的发展案例揭示城市规划目标的实现是规划与市场紧密互动的结果.规划若要引导城市开发,规划师就必须理解城市经济及土地房地产的经济规律和政府管理市场的方法,就必须掌握规划管理引导市场投资实施规划目标的手段和措施.     

浙江省城市污水处理与回用战略研究

本文从浙江省城市用水紧张与城市污水处理及回用设施水平整体滞后的实际出发 ,论述了城市污水处理及回用工程的基本思路 :为沙漠城市社会经济的可持续发展提出了不同时期的发展目标 ,并且进一步探索了推进城市污水处理及回用工程建设与发展的对策措施     

“May the Force move you”: Roles and actors of information sharing devices in urban mobility

The innovation recently brought into the market for mobility innovation (by apps, social networks and sharing economy practices) impacts upon the economic appeal of urban areas and strongly influences the preferences of individuals in happiness, lifestyles and related aspect of urban consumption. Several sharing devices are nowadays producing such effects, offering innovative solutions to support the availability of mobility supply. They do so by conveying useful tools to the whole community of users, by proposing new ways of producing knowledge and services, and by favoring symmetric information in the urban mobility market. The paper aims to discuss the impact of these innovation devices in shaping individual’s mobility preferences, by drawing on a wide set of experiences that have introduced new technologies and shared mobility practices that provide significant information related to mobility. Drawing on a literature review referred to a wide set of new technologies and shared mobility practices based on significant information related to mobility, the paper draws its discussion on three analytical dimensions: the role that information has in shaping individual mobility choices, and how it may interact with individual preferences and needs; the varied forms of relevant mobility information made available by information-sharing devices; the many actors (corporations, public administrations, community groups…) who produce information collecting data and making them available in different forms. Drawing on these elements, a policy framework is discussed, to define suitable operational approaches to urban mobility that are more attentive to individual needs and more effective in terms of sustainability.     

市政工程造价控制方法的研究

随着我国扩大内需促进经济政策的落实,全国各地大规模基础设施建设已经拉开序幕,市政工程是其中重要的部分。市政工程的造价控制关系到资金的使用效益、所建工程的社会效益以及当地经济是否受益等,所以如何有效控制工程造价的意义重大。