ALBANIAN LAND MARKET ACTION PLAN: PURPOSES, ACHIEVEMENTS, LESSONS

The transition in Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States from command to market-oriented economies requires new land market institutions and policies. Once privatization of land has moved far enough to permit and stimulate demand for market transactions, the question becomes one of establishing dynamic land markets (i.e., a growing volume of transactions) that also "work properly." Concerning the transition in the ownership and management of real property and the resultant efforts to create new land market institutions, the experience of Albania is instructive, and this paper outlines the establishment of an Albanian land market strategy. In the discussion of a market-oriented economy in Albania, the question was how to create the land market component of the transition following privatization of land. Four market characteristics were identified as goals: (1) the land market should be dynamic, that is, there should be numerous transactions; (2) acquisition of land through these transactions should be by people who make productive investments; (3) all sectors of the population should participate in the market as buyers and sellers of land rights; and (4) people's investments in land through these market transactions should result in sustainable uses of land so as to assure the environmental rights of future generations. This paper presents the effort to address these goals through the Land Market Action Plan, prepared by Albanian government with the assistance of the Land Tenure Center.Land titles--Registration and transfer--Albania, Land use--Government policy--Albania, Institution building --Albania--Evaluation, Technical assistance--Albania--Evaluation, Land administration--Albania, Project appraisal--Albania, Land markets--Albania, Land Economics/Use,

Налоговое регулирование сельского хозяйства: современные тенденции, выбор форм государственной поддержки

В статье исследуется проблема выбора форм государственной поддержки аграрного сектора как одного из наиболее значимых секторов экономики. Основная цель - определить направления налогообложения в Беларуси с учетом мирового опыта налогообложения и субсидирования сельхозпроизводителей, а также интеграционных процессов, происходящих в Евразийском экономическом союзе (ЕАЭС). Государственное финансирование сельского хозяйства, обладающего отраслевой спецификой и социальной значимостью в решении проблем бедности, экономического роста и продовольственной безопасности, определено как приоритетное направление. На основе национальных налоговых законодательств обобщены особенности налогового стимулирования в развитых странах. Выявлено, что, несмотря на преимущественное субсидирование аграрного сектора, налоговые регуляторы активно применяются разными странами. Это позволяет учитывать национальную специфику и приоритеты. Кроме того, в исследовании рассматривается современное состояние сельского хозяйства Республики Беларусь, представлены направления его бюджетного финансирования и особенностей налогообложения, обобщаются виды налоговых льгот для производителей сельскохозяйственной продукции, анализируются специальные режимы налогообложения для сельскохозяйственных организаций и крестьянских (фермерских) хозяйств. В связи с активным участием республики в интеграционных образованиях изучаются внешние факторы, влияющие на стратегию финансирования сельского хозяйства: обязательства по сокращению бюджетных средств и налогообложение аграриев в рамках ЕАЭС. В результате были сделаны выводы о необходимости пересмотра механизмов национального налогового стимулирования на основе оценки их эффективности и расширения спектра действия.In the article the problem of selection of state support forms for the agricultural sector is considered as one of the most important sectors of economics. Main purpose of the article is to determine the tax areas in Belarus taking into account international experience in taxation and subsidies of farmers, and processes of integration in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Agriculture with its sector particularity, social importance in solving problems of poverty, economic growth and food security is defined as a priority area of government funding. Main characteristics of tax incentives in developed countries were summarized based on national tax laws. It was concluded that, despite the preferential subsidies of the agricultural sector, tax regulators were widely used by different countries that allowed taking into account national particularity and priorities. Article reviewed current situation in the agricultural sector of the Republic of Belarus. Were studied directions of government financing of agriculture and peculiarities of its taxation. In the article were also generalized forms of tax exemptions for the producers of agricultural output. Were analyzed special tax regimes for agricultural organizations and peasant (farmer) households. Due to the active participation of the Republic in the integration entities were analyzed as well external factors, which influenced strategy of agricultural financing: commitments to reduce budget funds and taxes on farmers within the EAEU. Conclusions on need of reviewing mechanisms of national tax incentives were made, based on its effectiveness assessment and widening of the range of actions

Відповідність кадастрово-реєстраційної системи України стандартам аналогічних систем країн ЄС

The experience and main trends of development, modernization and standardization of cadastral-register systems in Europe are presented. Current practice and EU requirements for creation of cadastral-register systems are analyzed. Correspondence between cadastral-register system of Ukraine and standards of similar EU systems is defined. Such basic criteria as efficiency, accuracy and reliability, customer orientation, service efficiency, the minimum cost are determinedПредставлены основные тенденции развития и модернизации кадастрово-регистрационных систем стран Европы. Проанализирована современная практика их стандартизации. Систематизированы требования ЕС к созданию кадастрово-регистрационных систем. Определены основные критерии соответствия кадастрово-регистрационной системы Украины аналогичным системам стран ЕС.Наведено головні тенденції розвитку та модернізації кадастрово-реєстраційних систем країн Європи. Проаналізовано сучасну практику їх стандартизації. Систематизовано вимоги ЄС щодо створення кадастрово-реєстраційних систем. Визначено основні критерії відповідності кадастрово-реєстраційної системи України аналогічним системам країн Є

Modelling and simulating change in reforesting mountain landscapes using a social-ecological framework

Natural reforestation of European mountain landscapes raises major environmental and societal issues. With local stakeholders in the Pyrenees National Park area (France), we studied agricultural landscape colonisation by ash (Fraxinus excelsior) to enlighten its impacts on biodiversity and other landscape functions of importance for the valley socio-economics. The study comprised an integrated assessment of land-use and land-cover change (LUCC) since the 1950s, and a scenario analysis of alternative future policy. We combined knowledge and methods from landscape ecology, land change and agricultural sciences, and a set of coordinated field studies to capture interactions and feedback in the local landscape/land-use system. Our results elicited the hierarchically-nested relationships between social and ecological processes. Agricultural change played a preeminent role in the spatial and temporal patterns of LUCC. Landscape colonisation by ash at the parcel level of organisation was merely controlled by grassland management, and in fact depended on the farmer's land management at the whole-farm level. LUCC patterns at the landscape level depended to a great extent on interactions between farm household behaviours and the spatial arrangement of landholdings within the landscape mosaic. Our results stressed the need to represent the local SES function at a fine scale to adequately capture scenarios of change in landscape functions. These findings orientated our modelling choices in the building an agent-based model for LUCC simulation (SMASH - Spatialized Multi-Agent System of landscape colonization by ASH). We discuss our method and results with reference to topical issues in interdisciplinary research into the sustainability of multifunctional landscapes

An Analysis of the Strenghts and Weaknesses of the Turkish Real Estate Market

Real estate is one of the foremost and traditional investments for Turkish household. In addition to this traditional demand, it has also observed that Turkish real estate market becomes one of the popular investment destination for foreign investors. 2003-2007 period would be accepted as the boom period for Turkish economy in general and real estate sector in specific. Although there are considerable opportunities in the market, both Turkish economy and real estate sector suffer important structural problems. Hence, the objective assesment for the Turkish real estate market requires a costbenefit analysis. In this paper, the author is attempting to reach an objective approach presenting both strong and also weak sides of market. The critical point is current deficiencies of the market may result negative impacts on further development. As a solution, we suggest that Real Estate Regulation and Supervision Agency should be established as a new government agency. To our view, primary expectation of this agency is to issue regulations/standards for real estate brokerage/ marketing/appraisal,and also housing finance to enhance consumer protection, public interest and market efficiency.Turkish real estate market, consumer protection in real estate, real estate appraisal, Real Estate Regulation and Supervision Agency

The Effect of Potential-based Land Tax on Land Utilization

Land as a scarce resource requires efficient allocation, which includes efficiency in producing the highest value and efficiency in consumption conforming to people’s willingness-to-pay. Thus methods for controlling proper land utilization are essential for societies to reach sustainability. Like in many countries land and property tax in Austria is based on the profit that everyone could achieve using the land. This concept of a productivity-based land tax was developed centuries ago, when land in European economies was mainly used for agriculture. The implementation was simple, because soil quality, which is the main factor for possible productivity, could be determined. However, economies changed and the profit from agricultural areas – and thus the value of agricultural land – decreased with the effect that also the utilization of former agricultural areas altered. Therefore, also an adjustment in the tax system seems to be appropriate. In the paper the effects of such a change will be discussed. Determination of land tax should be objective and fair. The value of land is an objective criterion and since it reflects the wealth of the land owner it is also a fair measure. The value of land can be defined in different ways but the obvious meaning should be the market value, i.e., the revenue that will be gained if the land is sold. The market value is based on a number of factors including general economic situation and location, but one of the most prominent factors is potential use. Areas that allow a highly profitable use have a higher market value than areas with many restrictions on the use, e.g., due to regulations on groundwater protection or monument conservation. Austria has a large number of data sources that are suitable to determine land value in a mass appraisal approach (Muggenhuber et al., 2013). The implementation would be simple from a technical perspective, even if comprehensive political discussions are required. Land and real properties are also commodities within the capital market with rather stabile asset values over time. Thus, they also can serve as parking place for investments with minimal maintenance costs.. Therefore, people may purchase land in residential areas as a financial investment without improving the land with the consequence that the municipality is forced to create additional residential areas and provide the necessary infrastructure. This stresses the budget of the municipality and has a negative effect on resource management. If land tax is based on the potential of the land, land owners may rethink their strategy. The tax causes financial losses of the potential is not exhausted. Potential buyers will have an interest in the land, because they want to utilize the potential now. In addition, the political decision makers explicitly see the monetary effect of their decisions, and the beneficiaries become visible for the public