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The political economy of property tax reform
Posted on: 16 April 2014
By: mackene
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Property taxes are generally considered by economists to be good taxes, and many countries are being advised to increase and improve their property taxes. In practice, however, property tax reforms have often proved to be difficult to carry out successfully. This paper discusses why property taxes are particularly challenging to reform and suggests several ways in which efforts to reform this tax may become more successful in the future. After a brief introductory section on the ‘disconnect’ between the economics and the politics of property tax reform, Section 2 summarizes recent experiences in five OECD countries with property tax reform. Against this background, Section 3 sets out the key elements of a good property tax reform and Section 4 discusses several aspects of property tax reform that seem to have derailed or distorted reforms in practice. Unfortunately, some of the solutions countries have adopted to deal with such problems are themselves problematic, either because they do not really solve the problem or because they hamper rather than work towards the establishment of a good property tax. s Section 5 outlines that it is possible to devise strategies for property tax reform that incorporate more acceptable solutions to most problems. As Section 6 concludes, that while good property tax reform is not easy, it can definitely be achieved if an appropriately designed reform package is properly introduced and implemented.
Defining the eco-city: A discursive approach
Posted on: 16 April 2014
By: mackene
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No universally accepted definition of the eco-city exists. There may be some general agreement about the sorts of broad principles on which it should be based, but in practice eco-city initiatives remain characterised by tremendous conceptual, contextual, and practical diversity. In this paper the authors explore this empirical diversity, using discourse analysis to compare and contrast a series of initiatives around the world, and then discuss its implications. They conclude that a search for a prescriptive definition may not be so fruitful; instead, it may be useful to consider the eco-city as an ambition or objective which there will be multiple ways to achieve.
Oxfordshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment: Key findings on housing need
Posted on: 16 April 2014
By: mackene
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This report sets out key findings of the Oxfordshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment relating to the overall need for housing to 2031. It describes the approach and factors considered to identifying overall housing need. It starts by examining what level of housing would be needed on the basis of past population trends, and then considers the degree to which this needs to be adjusted to take account of the identified need for affordable housing, to improve housing affordability and to support committed economic growth in line with the approach Government expects councils to follow.
Climate change 2014: Mitigation of climate change
Posted on: 16 April 2014
By: mackene
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In March, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published the second part of its new assessment on the state of knowledge on climate change. This report focuses on what is known about the impacts of climate change and the opportunities for effective action to reduce risks. The second part of the assessment identifies the three key risks for Europe but does not provide information at the scale of the UK. The third part of the IPCC’s assessment was published on 14 April 2014 and focused on mitigation.
In Focus Mauritius: The past, present and future
Posted on: 16 April 2014
By: mackene
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This article looks at the ‘traditional’ view of Mauritius as a luxury destination and analyses where the market is currently placed. Key discussions include the shift in source markets and the upcoming trend of offering full-board and all-inclusive.
In Focus: Welcome to paradise! Seychelles, Maldives and Mauritius
Posted on: 16 April 2014
By: mackene
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This article investigates the primary tourism drivers, hotel performance, tourism development plans and the outlook for the tourism industries of the world’s most luxury resort destinations, the Seychelles, the Maldives and Mauritius.
The 7th Environment Action Programme: Reflections on sustainable development and environmental policy integration
Posted on: 16 April 2014
By: mackene
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The main aim of this European Sustainable Development Network (ESDN) Quarterly Report is to investigate the recently adopted 7th Environment Action Programme (EAP) of the European Union, which is the European Union’s main strategy for environmental policy and, in particular, environmental policy integration. In this respect, the 7th EAP builds on existing policy initiatives, such as the Europe 2020 Strategy and the renewed European Sustainable Development Strategy, and aims to tackle environmental challenges which should help achieve long-term sustainable development goals. To this context, this QR provides an analysis to investigate the 7th EAP with respect to the concepts of sustainable development and environmental policy integration.
Life in Marylebone Photography Competition 18-27 April 2014
Posted on: 14 April 2014
By: mackene
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Everyone with any digital camera are invited to capture any view in and around Marylebone on the weekend of St George’s Day and Easter week (18-27 April 2014) and submit them to this competition.
Shaping the future of travel: Macro trends driving industry growth over the next decade
Posted on: 14 April 2014
By: mackene
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This report, written by Oxford Economics and commissioned by Amadeus, forecasts travel to grow by 5.4% perannum over the next 10 years, outpacing global GDP. Moreover, global travel is now set to grow at a significantly faster rate than during the financial crisis, where growth was just 4.1% per annum. At the same time, China’s growth in outbound travel, which as recently as 2005 stood at just 1%, will enable it to overtake the U.S to become the world’s largest outbound travel market this year, with the number of Chinese households able to afford overseas travel set to more than double in the next 10 years to reach 220 million. China will also become the biggest domestic travel market by 2017, driven largely by rapidly increasing GDP, rising employment levels and higher consumer spending.
Improving High Street performance: What are we trying to achieve?
Posted on: 14 April 2014
By: mackene
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This blog, from Professor Cathy Parker from Manchester Metropolitan University, lists over 170 studies read as part of a review of the published academic retail, shopping and town centre literature carried out in order to identify all the factors that affect high street performance.
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