Urban Institute: International Issues

Low Income Shelter Finance in Slum Upgrading

paffairs@urban.org ( Sally R. Merrill, Ajay Suri ) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST

This report summarizes findings from the USAID-sponsored project on models of financing for slum upgrading in India, undertaken on behalf of SPARC, a prominent NGO involved in slum upgrading in India and internationally for over two decades, and the National Housing Bank of India (NHB), one of whose main goals is enhancing housing finance for low-income households. In preparing the recommendations, the Urban Institute and SDS India have worked together with USAID and an Advisory Group formed for this project. In addition to SPARC and NHB, the Advisory Group includes banks, housing finance companies (HFCs), foundations, microfinance institutions (MFIs), builders, and Indian research institutions addressing shelter and microfinance.

Fiscal Decentralization and Intergovernmental Finance Reform as an International Development Strategy

paffairs@urban.org ( Jameson Boex ) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST

Decentralization and intergovernmental finance have been a common element in international development efforts for many years. However, the success of fiscal decentralization as a development strategy is decidedly unclear, and there is growing skepticism about the effectiveness of (fiscal) decentralization as an international development strategy. This short essay explores the current state of knowledge with respect to fiscal decentralization and assesses the relevance of fiscal decentralization to the wider international development agenda, using the fiscal aspects of decentralization as an entry-point into the broader discussion of decentralization.

Microfinance for Housing: Assisting the "Bottom Billion" and the "Missing Middle"

paffairs@urban.org ( Sally R. Merrill ) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST

UN-HABITAT has calculated that one-sixth of humanity1 billion peoplecurrently live in slums. In the next 30 years, this figure could rise to over 31 percent of the world's population. The vast majority of these households will never be able to afford, nor have access to, formal mortgage finance. Thus, increasing the availability of microfinance for housing (MFH) to help provide adequate shelter and sanitation will become increasingly important.

Condominium Housing and Mortgage Lending in Emerging Markets--Constraints and Opportunities

paffairs@urban.org ( Carol Rabenhorst, Sonia Ignatova ) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST

International experience suggests that there is a strong causal link between housing demand, housing finance, financial sector development and economic growth. Yet, a housing market cannot flourish without mortgage finance, which allows all but the poorer segments of the population to purchase, expand or improve their homes, or to use the equity in their homes for other purposes, such as major purchases, college education, travel or investment. There is now growing recognition of these connections among policy-makers in developing and transition countries, and among international development donors who wish both to strengthen financial markets and to improve the economic well-being of citizens in their client countries. This paper provides an overview of the constraints and opportunities for condominium housing and mortgage lending in emerging markets.

Foreign Aid: Essential to Security, but Money Alone Is Not Enough : IDG Working Paper

paffairs@urban.org ( Charles Cadwell ) — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 EST

As President Obama and the 111th Congress prepare to assume office, Urban Institute (UI) experts offer their advice on evidence-based policymaking and the policy issues facing the country. Charles Cadwell, Director of UIs Center on International Development and Governance (IDG) argues that foreign aid and a renewed emphasis on international development are essential to national security and international stability, but that money alone will not achieve the desired policy outcomes. Policies and institutions, not resources, pose the greatest constraints and require the most work ahead.

Local Government Revenue, Land Use, and Economic Development Policies in Serbia: The Case of Nis : IDG Working Paper

paffairs@urban.org ( Anthony Levitas ) — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 EST

The purpose of this note is to help both local and national government officials think through possible strategies for addressing one of the fundamental issues facing Serbian municipalities today: How do Serbian local governments increase the revenues they need to improve their public infrastructure while simultaneously creating an environment favorable to private investment and local economic development? This is a dilemma that local governments face throughout the world but which is particularly pressing in many developing and transition countries where local governments must address huge deficits in urban infrastructure without at the same time over taxing their business communities upon which their future growth depends. It is also of particular importance in Nis, the third largest city in Serbia and the economic engine of the southern and least developed part of the country.

What Determines the Quality of Local Financial Management? The Case of Tanzania : IDG Working Paper

paffairs@urban.org ( Jameson Boex, Matitu C. Muga ) — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 EST

For the public sector to deliver public services and achieve its policy objectives, it is critical that public finances are managed well. Critics of decentralization point out that local governments are often administratively weak, and that poor local financial management can negate the potential benefits from decentralization. While the available research suggests that local financial management outcomes are influenced by more than a local governments financial management practices, little is known in the literature about the determinants of effective local financial management in developing and transition economies. The empirical analysis in this paper uses data for local government authorities in Tanzania in order to explore the relationship between local financial management performance on one hand, and local management practices, local governance, and other local characteristics on the other hand.

Aid Effectiveness in the Infrastructure Sector: Final Report

paffairs@urban.org ( Harry Garnett, Ritu Nayyar-Stone, Sarah Polen ) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

In response to the challenges posed by the Millennium Development Goals, the key stakeholders in international development set out a new agenda to improve the effectiveness of aid. This agenda, embodied in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, articulates a series of commitments reflected by the following tenets: ownership, alignment, harmonization, managing for results, and mutual accountability. The goal of this study was to identify lessons learned from the application of the Paris Declaration tenets in the infrastructure sector and, specifically, to determine whether the unique characteristics of this sector result in unique challenges and opportunities for implementing the tenets. This report, submitted to the Steering Committee by The Urban Institute, presents detailed findings on the Study on Aid Effectiveness in the Infrastructure Sector.

Integrating Public Property in the Realm of Fiscal Transparency and Anti-Corruption Efforts

paffairs@urban.org ( Olga Kaganova ) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

The area of government property asset management is relatively new in public management. Most public wealth is concentrated in public property, and expenses associated with it constitute a substantial part of public budgets. The chapter ventures into two international "hot topics": practical enhancement of public financial resources through better management of property asset and curbing corruption in the historically corrupt area of government-owned property. The chapter provides a conceptual and methodological framework for governmental decision-makers and their advisors and ends by formulating and discussing a number of issues that require further professional and public debate.

Introducing More Transparent and Efficient Land Management in Post-Socialist Cities : Lessons from Kyrgyzstan

paffairs@urban.org ( Olga Kaganova, Abdirasul Akhmatov, Charles Undeland ) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Urban Institute worked with five cities in post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan to apply better management practices through the development of Strategic Land Management Plans. UI worked with local governments to make an inventory of municipal land, publicize the results, and develop a strategy that articulated principles for land management. This led to several improvements including proper registration of parcels and proactive policies to lease and sell land through open competition. It also established a model for determining public policy that countered corruption and public deliberation of costs and benefits in the use of local assets. Donor involvement was also critical to success.

Legislating-for-Results Municipal Action Guides

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

The Urban Institute and National League of Cities developed this series of 10 guides for city and county elected officials, and their staffs, to help them obtain and use information about the results of their governments' services in helping their citizens. The Guides address such issues as: improving strategic planning; improving budgeting decisions; reviewing programs throughout the year; helping motivate their government's employees and contractors; and two-way communications with citizens on what citizens are getting for their money. Specific actions are suggested, and examples are provided.

The Broader Movement: Nonprofit Environmental and Conservation Organizations, 1989-2005

paffairs@urban.org ( Baird Straughan, Thomas H. Pollak ) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

This study, the first comprehensive look at IRS data on more than 26,000 environmental and conservation organizations 8,000 of which had revenues of $25,000 or more reveals a core of prominent national organizations and a larger, more rapidly growing universe of regional, local, and other specialized groups. Taken as a whole, the environmental movement expanded in number of organizations, members, and in total revenues almost every year since 1960. It focused less on advocacy than on projects and education, and was younger, more densely networked, and more dependent upon grants and contributions than was the nonprofit sector in general.

Unemployment and Unemployment Protection in Transition

paffairs@urban.org ( Vera Brusentsev, Wayne Vroman ) — Tue, 27 May 2008 00:00:00 EST

This paper examines developments in aggregate income and the labor market of the 28 countries from Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union (CEE-FSU) in the period from 1990 to 2006. Income, employment, unemployment and labor market support services are examined in tabulations and time series regressions. Comparisons are made with developments in major countries from other regions of the world.

An Urban-Rural Focus on Food Markets in Africa

paffairs@urban.org ( Clare Romanik ) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST

Africa's cities purchase much more food domestically than the continent imports or exports; they represent economic hope if rural and peri-urban producers learn to meet their particular food demands, including more meat, dairy, and processed foods. Increased efficiency will come with more onsite processing, contract enforcement, and distribution centers. Best practices from South Africa include the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market and Thohoyandou Spar Supermarket requiring their agents to purchase a share of their fresh vegetables from small growers. Efforts to strengthen regulation and raise standards must remember that the urban poor depend on public markets, the informal sector and "inferior" products.

Stabilizing Future Fiscal Policy : It's Time to Pull the Trigger

paffairs@urban.org ( Rudolph G. Penner, C. Eugene Steuerle ) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EST

Fiscal policy is out of control. Programs, such as Social Security and Medicare, have design features that push up spending faster than the growth of revenues. It is time to change the course of the automatic pilot driving these programs. To do so, policymakers can develop triggers that automatically curb spending. Triggers will level the playing field between programs that have large automatic growth and those where growth or even maintenance of effort cannot be obtained without new legislation. The paper examines triggers employed to reform Social Security in other advanced democracies and explores design options for an optimal trigger.

Replacement Rates and UC Benefit Generosity

paffairs@urban.org ( Wayne Vroman ) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EST

This report presents an actuarial framework for examining the costs of unemployment compensation (UC) programs. The framework, derived in Section 1, emphasizes three factors: (1) the unemployment rate, (2) the recipiency rate (the share of the unemployed who collect UC benefits) and (3) the replacement rate (weekly benefits relative to weekly wages). Sections 2 and 3 examine replacement rates in 20 high income countries from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Section 2 examines empirical replacement rates while Section 3 compares the empirical estimates from Section 2 with estimates published by the OECD. The two estimates differ substantially, and analysis of the cause(s) of the differences is recommended.

Comprehensive Services for Survivors of Human Trafficking : Findings from Clients in Three Communities

paffairs@urban.org ( Laudan Y. Aron, Janine M. Zweig, Lisa C. Newmark ) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EST

Many humans are trafficked across international borders for the purposes of labor or sexual exploitation. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) developed the Services for Trafficking Victims Discretionary Grant Program - Comprehensive Services Sites. The program provides direct services, such as legal and crisis counseling to assist victims once they are identified until they are certified to receive other federal benefits. Urban Institute researchers conducted face-to-face interviews with survivors and with key service providers in three evaluation sites. The in-depth interviews document victims service needs, their experiences using OVC-funded services, and barriers to services. They also provide a unique opportunity to listen directly to the voices of the victims.

Univ. of Maryland's Charles Cadwell Is Appointed Director of Urban Institute's International Activities Center

paffairs@urban.org ( The Urban Institute ) — Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 EST

Charles Cadwell, a University of Maryland expert on the political economy of reform in developing nations, the relationship of institutions to economic development, and the implementation of legal and judicial reforms, has joined the Urban Institute as the director of its International Activities Center.

Five Questions For Everett Henderson

paffairs@urban.org ( Everett Henderson ) — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:00:00 EST

Everett Henderson, a research associate in Urban Institute's Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population, is an expert on immigrant populations and the U.S. labor market. He is an author of the two-part "A Profile of Immigrants in Arkansas," which finds that Arkansas is home to the nation's fastest-growing Hispanic population.

Real Estate 101 for Government

paffairs@urban.org ( John J. Hentschel, Olga Kaganova ) — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EST

This Baltimore Examiner commentary explains how government agencies and elected officials can make informed decisions about when or whether to sell property and how to set a fair price.

The International Charitable Nonprofit Subsector : Scope, Size, and Revenue

paffairs@urban.org ( Janelle Kerlin, Supaporn Thanasombat ) — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EST

This brief provides an overview of the report, The International Charitable Nonprofit Subsector in the United States. It provides a snapshot of the international subsector through an analysis of trends in their size, resources, and scope from FY 2001 to FY 2003 in three major areas of operation: international development and assistance, international understanding, and international affairs. The brief confirms the central role of private support and financing for foreign aid and provides a window into the financial health of these organizations. It also gives an overview of the geographic concentrations and the depth of U.S. international nonprofit activities and enumerates the importance of small organizations.

40 Percent of U.S.-Based International Nonprofits Ran Deficits in 2003

paffairs@urban.org ( The Urban Institute ) — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EST

A new report from the Urban Institute shows that despite widespread public concern in recent years about the plight of people in foreign lands, 40 percent of U.S.-based international nonprofits ran deficits in 2003.

The Right Way to Sell Off Public Assets

paffairs@urban.org ( Olga Kaganova, Marilee A. Utter ) — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 00:00:00 EST

With more cities and states looking to reap new funds from the sale or lease of assets, two experts discuss strategies governments can use to get the most out of each deal.

U.S. Government Funding of International Nongovernmental Organizations

paffairs@urban.org ( Janelle Kerlin ) — Tue, 30 May 2006 00:00:00 EST

Since the 1970s, U.S. government funding of international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) has risen dramatically, however, there is little research examining this trend. This analysis of U.S.-based INGOs uses the Urban Institutes National Center for Charitable Statistics/GuideStar National Nonprofit Database to provide new insight into the government funding of these organizations. Analysis finds that despite a steady increase, government funding is still limited to a relatively small percentage of INGOs and federal dollars only contribute about a fifth of the overall revenue for the sector. Also, government funding varies across different types of INGO activities and regions. Findings additionally show that changes in foreign policy after 2001 affected foreign assistance funding for INGOs.

Assessing the Impact of Devolution of Healthcare and Education in Pakistan

Fri, 05 May 2006 00:00:00 EST

The conceptual and legal framework for the development of an effective system of local governance in Pakistan was created in July 2001, and a review of the Local Government Ordinance of 2001 reveals that the rules and procedures to govern the process have been set in place. Yet, four and a half years into devolution, political decentralization has not been followed by adequate administrative and fiscal decentralization to ensure quality service delivery to the public. This report assesses the progress and challenges of effective and efficient service delivery in the health, education, and water sectors, local fiscal roles and responsibilities, and local government accountability and citizen participation under devolution. Conclusions presented in the report focus on "governance" issues impeding successful devolution. Many of the recommendations are aimed at donor organizations and several are already being addressed by ongoing USAID projects.

New Book Surveys International Experiences in Managing Public Property Assets

paffairs@urban.org ( The Urban Institute ) — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 00:00:00 EST

National, regional, and local governments are by far the largest owners of real property; even Western governments may control a third or more of all property assets. A new book from the Urban Institute Press -- Managing Government Property Assets: International Experiences, edited by Olga Kaganova of the Urban Institute and James McKellar of the Schulich School of Business at Toronto's York University -- comprehensively examines the management of these assets from an international perspective.

An International Conference on Social Security Reform in Selected OECD Countries

paffairs@urban.org ( The Urban Institute ) — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 00:00:00 EST

The conference examines Social Security reforms in a number of OECD countries that have moved far ahead of the United States in dealing with the budget pressures associated with the aging of their populations.

The International Charitable Nonprofit Subsector in the United States : International Understanding, International Development and Assistance, and International Affairs

paffairs@urban.org ( Elizabeth Reid, Janelle Kerlin ) — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EST

This report describes the capacity of U.S. nonprofits to mobilize in international development and assistance, promotion of international understanding, and international affairs. It is the first systematic national study of international nonprofits using descriptive statistics and data on charitable nonprofits obtained from the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) at the Urban Institute. Findings confirm the central role of international nonprofits in supporting foreign causes and distributing aid around the world. Government's increasing reliance on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to carry out foreign aid programs is also detailed.

Collaborative Advantage

paffairs@urban.org ( Leonard Lynn, Harold Salzman ) — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST

As the U.S. loses its monopoly in high technology, policymakers are calling for increases in the number of science and technology graduates and in R&D investment. We believe these proposals fail to recognize what is distinctive about the emerging global economy. Our studies of engineering in multinational home countries and in emerging economies suggest that the U.S. cannot match the numbers of engineers being trained in India and China, and it is not clear how much benefits to U.S. firms will help the U.S. economy. Instead, the U.S. should seek "collaborative advantage" by developing a new role in the global technology system. We should train "global engineers," support research where there is true comparative advantage, and develop mutual-gain partnerships. [This article appeared in the National Academies of Science journal Issues in Science and Technology Winter 2006. www.issues.org.]

Home-buying Vouchers for Storm Victims

paffairs@urban.org ( Steve Anlian ) — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 00:00:00 EST

For Gulf Coast residents who survived Hurricane Katrina but no longer have homes, finding somewhere to live is an immediate concern. Steve Anlian, the Urban Institute's senior associate in Yerevan, Armenia, says housing vouchers are the answer. "As officials figure out how to respond to under- or uninsured home owners who are eligible for aid, experience abroad, in developing countries, argues strongly for multi-state housing-purchase vouchers."

Economist Annette Brown Joins the Urban Institute as Director of its International Activities Center

paffairs@urban.org ( The Urban Institute ) — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 00:00:00 EST

Annette Brown, a senior manager in the Emerging Markets division of BearingPoint, Inc., has been appointed director of the Urban Institute's International Activities Center. Brown will oversee IAC's overseas-focused work on issues of public administration and local governance, municipal and intergovernmental finance, urban development and the environment, housing and land markets, civil society and democratic institutions, and social sector reform.

The 'New' Globalization of Engineering : How the Offshoring of Advanced Engineering Affects Competitiveness and Development

paffairs@urban.org ( Leonard Lynn, Harold Salzman ) — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 00:00:00 EST

This paper examines offshoring of advanced engineering to emerging economies by multinational enterprises (MNEs) through case studies of U.S. and European MNE engineering development sites in China, India, and Mexico. We assess the offshoring of core technologies, impact on MNE engineering capabilities, and degree of technology transfer to emerging economies. We find significant technology transfer to emerging economies, but MNEs are developing multiple national identities, weakening their strong national ties and technology capabilities of their home countries. Although the global state of technology will benefit, it is less certain what the country-specific impact will be on jobs and economic growth.

Demythologizing the Russian Flat Tax

paffairs@urban.org ( Clifford G. Gaddy, William G. Gale ) — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 00:00:00 EST

On January 1, 2001, Russia introduced what has frequently been called a "flat tax." In this report, we examine the limited research and information available on the effects of Russias personal income tax reform and reach five principal conclusions: The change in the personal income tax was not a stand-alone reform and the personal income tax component of the reform package bears little resemblance to a Hall-Rabushka flat tax; economic growth had begun well before the reforms and microeconomic data suggest that the tax rate reductions had little if any effect on labor supply; and it is likely that the significant increase in compliance following the 2001 reform is attributable to changes in the administration and enforcement of tax laws.

Fiscal Federalism and National Unity

paffairs@urban.org ( Richard M. Bird, Robert D. Ebel ) — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 00:00:00 EST

An important characteristic of many countries is that they exhibit, to greater or lesser degrees, some "asymmetry" in the way in which different regions are treated by their intergovernmental fiscal systems. This paper explores some of the varied extents and manners in which such asymmetrical treatment may help or hinder the maintenance of an effective nation-state, where "effectiveness" encompasses both how effectively, efficiently, and (perhaps) equitably public services are provided throughout the national territory and also the effects asymmetry may have on the very existence of "fragmented" nation-states.

Use of the Formal and Informal Financial Sectors: Does Gender Matter? : Empirical Evidence from Rural Bangladesh

paffairs@urban.org ( Signe-Mary McKernan, Mark M. Pitt, David Moskowitz ) — Sat, 15 Jan 2005 00:00:00 EST

Access to transfers and credit, whether cash or in-kind, is a major source of poverty alleviation and income generation in many developing countries around the world. Women may especially benefit from transfers and credit in countries such as Bangladesh where they often have few work alternatives. In this paper, the authors descriptively examine the formal and informal financial sectors of rural Bangladesh, placing special emphasis on differences between men and women. Their analysis uses unique data on the credit and transfer behaviors of 1,800 households in rural Bangladesh.

Estimating the Impact of a Russian Job Search Program Targeted on the Unemployed in Very Low-Income Families

paffairs@urban.org ( Raymond J. Struyk, Kirill Chagin ) — Fri, 20 Aug 2004 00:00:00 EST

This paper presents an impact evaluation of an active labor market program operating in over a dozen Russian cities. The program provides job search assistance and significant financial and social services support to unemployed workers who are members of very poor families. It is of interest because of high success (job acquisition) rates previously documented. The analysis shows that participants are significantly more likely to find and retain a job than a control group of similar workers who registered at the local Employment Centers at the same time. On the other hand, these workers were found to take jobs paying significantly lower wages than the controls. Importantly, data for an earlier participant cohort (but no controls) show that 75 percent of program participants remained employed more than a year after exiting the program.

Client Satisfaction with Home Care Services in Rural Russia

Thu, 01 Jul 2004 00:00:00 EST

This work explores the satisfaction of a sample of 300 frail elderly from rural Russia with the support services provided by social service agency staff. The client population lives in extremely difficult conditions in terms of housing and associated communal services. They reported high levels of satisfaction with the agency provided services. The patterns identified are broadly consistent with expectations based on modeling done for the U.S. populations receiving at-home care. The results clearly indicate the value of providing such services to frail elderly in such circumstances.

Assessment of Intergovernmental Relations and Local Governance in the Republic of Uzbekistan

Sun, 01 Feb 2004 00:00:00 EST

The study's primary purpose is to provide background and analysis on existing realities in Uzbekistan as input into USAID's thinking in respect to the timeliness and appropriateness of local government assistance. This assessment addresses the basic legal institutional framework for subnational government in Uzbekistan. It also describes how the central and respective local government tiers interact in practice and, how, at the municipal level, government is organized and operates, most importantly in respect to budgeting and the delivery of basic urban services. In addition, the assessment examines the role of mahallas (a traditional, neighborhood-based form of community self-governance) which have largely been absorbed into the system of state administration. The authors hope that the report will also serve as an informational resource for other parties interested in improving the effectiveness and responsiveness of local government in Uzbekistan.

Assessing and Starting a Local Economic Development (LED) Initiative : A Primer for USAID Field Staff

paffairs@urban.org ( EGAT / UP, The Urban Institute ) — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 00:00:00 EST

This primer on Local Economic Development (LED) is designed to provide USAID's field staff with a better understanding of LED. The first section provides a framework first for evaluating the utility of an LED initiative, and then developing an LED strategy. The second section highlights the components of a successful LED strategy. The third section addresses timing the implementation of an LED initiative. The fourth section provides case studies that demonstrate different approaches to LED programs (sectoral, regional, etc.). The primer concludes with samples of LED scopes of work, related websites, and other resource material.

The Policy Fellows Program : In-Service Training in Public Policy for Russian Local Government Officials

paffairs@urban.org ( Kristin Morse, Raymond J. Struyk ) — Wed, 01 Oct 2003 00:00:00 EST

This article describes UI's efforts to strengthen the policy development skills of Russian local government officials and NGO representatives. In 2-3 day courses, participants work together on exercises in analytical decision-making methods and monitoring and evaluation. The course also covers key concepts in policy making, such as considering the distributional aspects of policies, developing explicit decision-making criteria, balancing political and technical factors, defining public goods and services, and introducing competition to the public sector. Evaluations of the course indicate that it fills a definite training need for local officials and staff at advocacy NGOs in Russia.

Urban Sectoral Training for USAID Staff : Final Report and Recommendations for Future Training

paffairs@urban.org ( Clare Romanik, Kathy Alison ) — Wed, 01 Oct 2003 00:00:00 EST

This report summarizes the proceedings and lessons learned from a series of courses on urban development designed for USAID's field staff. There were two courses delivered: Development and Cities (given twice), and Cities and Economic Growth. The former discussed a broad range of urban issues ranging from slum upgrading/participatory management to disaster mitigation, and included participants from both USAID and its partner organizations. The latter covered mobilizing private resources for urban economic growth, the role of local government in promoting economic growth, etc. This final report includes agendas, case studies, evaluation results, focus groups, surveys, and a list of participants.

Contracting with NGOs for Social Services : Building Civil Society and Efficient Local Government in Russia

paffairs@urban.org ( Raymond J. Struyk ) — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 00:00:00 EST

During the transition period, the countries of Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States have witnessed the combination of sharp decentralization of government responsibilities to the local level, the creation of a flourishing nonprofit sector, and a growing need for NGOs to generate income beyond donor assistance to expand services. Russia is no exception. In this environment a strong case can be made for social service NGOs to be contracted by local governments to provide these services on behalf of city agencies. This arrangement provides a funding base for NGOs and introduces healthy competition into service delivery. This monograph describes and analyzes the early experience of several Russian local governments with contracting out. The main conclusion is that for this type of contracting out to be successful will require greater professionalism--of most NGOs in service delivery practices and local government agencies in contracting and in monitoring contractor performance. The author argues for a shift in some donor-supported training activities away from advocacy to service delivery NGOs.

Taxing Capital Gains in New Zealand

paffairs@urban.org ( Leonard E. Burman, David White ) — Mon, 01 Sep 2003 00:00:00 EST

This article analyzes the economic impact of taxing capital gains and four options for taxing capital gains in New Zealand. Drawing on their United States and New Zealand tax policymaking experience and the latest international research, the authors argue that the Tax Review 2001 dismissed too readily taxing gains on a realization basis. While acknowledging its glaring deficiencies, they contend that such problems as lock-in and loss limitations appear to be fairly modest based on available empirical evidence. The key point is that there is no perfect way to tax capital gains in a real-world income tax. And, on balance, taxing gains on a realization basis has a number of advantages over accrual taxation, the risk-free return method proposed by the Tax Review 2001, and taxing capital gains in an ad hoc and inconsistent fashion as New Zealand currently does.

"I Was Born in that Village" : Prospects for Minority Returns and Sustainable Integrated Communities in Kosovo

Sun, 01 Jun 2003 00:00:00 EST

This paper presents the findings from a 2003 assessment of the conditions that impede or support minority returns and reintegration in post-conflict Kosovo. The assessment analyzes the status, perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes of groups of internal displaced persons (IDPs) that hinder or promote their successful return and reintegration, and determines the economic, political, and social preconditions that are necessary to create sustainable multi-ethnic communities. The report describes the findings of the assessment team, presents an analysis of relevant issues, and provides specific guidance and recommendations to USAID/Kosovo on how existing and future programs can best support the conditions requisite to successful returns and reintegration.

USAID Citizen Participation Program in Nine Pilot Cities : Report on 2002 Second Follow-Up Household Survey Findings

paffairs@urban.org ( Sam Coxson ) — Sat, 03 May 2003 00:00:00 EST

This report presents the findings of a 2001 follow-up household survey of citizens' participation in nine Armenian cities. The survey builds on a similar 2000 baseline household survey, commissioned by USAID and the Government of the Republic of Armenia through the Local Government Assistance Program. The second follow-up household survey reported here was conducted in order to determine changes during the past year in citizen access to and participation in local government, to assess changes in levels of information about local government, to assess changes in attitudes and levels of satisfaction toward local government, and to assess changes in information sources used by citizens.

Final Closeout Report for Armenia Local Government Project

paffairs@urban.org ( Sam Coxson ) — Thu, 01 May 2003 00:00:00 EST

From January 2000 through May 2003 the Urban Institute (UI) implemented the Armenia Local Government Project (LGP) on behalf of USAID. This report highlights UI's activities under this project, which comprised four major components: government decentralization and association strengthening; local government capacity and service delivery improvement; citizen participation; and condominium association development and strengthening. This report details key impacts, lessons learned, and future directions for each component of the project.

Participation in a Decentralized Housing Allowance Program in a Transition Economy

Thu, 01 May 2003 00:00:00 EST

When Russia's housing allowance program, the country's first means-tested program, was introduced in 1994, it was truly innovative. But there were difficulties from the start, many arising from the division of authority for setting program parameters among different levels of government. In 1996, the program's original simple basis for benefit determination was seriously impaired by the introduction of different principles for very low-income households. The analysis presented here documents the impact of these variations on participation rates in a sample of Russian cities. Large inequities are obviously present in the treatment of similar households from city to city.

Russia's Winter Woes : Tariff Setting for Local Utilities in a Transition Economy

Tue, 01 Apr 2003 00:00:00 EST

During the past two winters, breakdowns in district heating services in Russia have grabbed international headlines. In Russia these services and water and sewerage services are the responsibility of municipal governments; these governments set the tariffs for these services. This article examines the tariff-setting process during 1997-2001 for these two services with particular emphasis on the decision process for considering tariff increases. We find that little progress has been made during the transition period in developing the legal base for rational tariff-setting procedures. Overall, tariff increases have been substantially less than the rate of inflation. Statistical analysis confirms that decisionmaking is highly politicized and that in times of extreme inflation tariff increases lag even further behind inflation. There is an obvious acute need for leadership at the national level to address these problems.

Russian Social Assistance Nonprofits as Potential Contractors to Local Governments

paffairs@urban.org ( Raymond J. Struyk, Patrick A. Corvington ) — Sun, 01 Dec 2002 00:00:00 EST

This paper reports the results of an assessment of the current practices of 13 Russian NGOs in delivering various types of social services. We find that the range of capability of Russian nonprofit organizations engaged in providing such services is indeed wide. We confirmed the relatively high level of professionalism in those NGOs that had received substantial technical and financial assistance from international organizations with similar missions. Additionally, among the nine "grass roots" NGOs in the sample, one-quarter appears to have the capacity to deliver services under contracts to local governments. A clear need for training in the process of service delivery was identified. An expansion in donor-supported training for the many NGOs engaged in these activities is recommended beyond the areas of start-up, governance, networking, and fund raising for which training is now abundant to ways to increase the efficiency and professionalism of service delivery. (The Nonprofit Review, Vol. 2., No. 2, 63-73 (2002))

Competing on Creativity : Placing Ontario's Cities in North American Context

Fri, 01 Nov 2002 00:00:00 EST

Creativity is crucial to economic growth. Regions must develop, attract and retain creative people who generate innovations, develop technology-intensive industries and power economic growth. Creative people concentrate within particular city-regions with a social environment open to creativity and diversity. The ability to attract creative people and to be open to a diverse population provides advantages to regions in generating innovations, growing and attracting high-technology industries, and spurring economic growth. This report examines the relationship between talent, technology, creativity and diversity in city-regions in Ontarioand Canada more generallyand compares these to relationships found to exist in American metropolitan regions.