The Governance of Land Use in OECD Countries
Policy Analysis and Recommendations
Land use has important consequences for the environment, public health, economic productivity,
inequality and social segregation. Land use policies are often complex and require
co-ordination across all levels of government as well as across policy sectors. Not
surprisingly, land use decisions can be contentious and conflicts over land use are
common across the OECD. This report argues that better land use governance requires
the use of a broader set of public policies to influence land use. In particular,
the incentives for particular land uses provided by fiscal instruments and tax policies
need to be better aligned with land use objectives. The report furthermore analyses
land use patterns across the OECD based on comprehensive land cover data. It shows
that developed land is growing everywhere, but great variation exists between countries.
Lastly, the report summarises insights from six in-depth case studies to show concrete
examples of land use related challenges in OECD countries and the response of national,
regional and local governments to them.
Published on May 02, 2017
In series:OECD Regional Development Studiesview more titles