This book provides an in-depth investigation of the role of the private and public sectors in land markets and regional economics, and explores the reasons behind government intervention in the interests of sustainable growth. The authors explore the subject of regional development and changing land use in a variety of different countries. They examine broad themes such as urban structure, infrastructure and eco-structure, and look in detail at issues including housing, transport and technology clustering. They also demonstrate that for a proper understanding of long-term changes, the broader institutional settings and policy regimes are of critical importance, as it is within this framework that private and public actors interact. It is therefore vital to search for institutional arrangements where conflicts of interest can be dealt with in a constructive way, and where ecological values are taken into consideration. The contributions in this book highlight these difficulties and offer practical proposals to improve current practices.

Regional scientists, geographers and development policymakers will welcome this rigorous exploration of the roles of the private and public sectors in the context of economic development.