Classifying Land Market Systems: Land Of Glory?

This research focuses on the land market. International land markets havenít been immune to the trend of creating more room for private initiatives. Land policy is moving; legislation has enabled more free market operations. In spite of strong political attention in the past, nowadays there seems to be an impasse in the land market policy. The first steps to a wider market influence seem to have various results. Future steps are dubious. For example, at this moment the Dutch government is searching for new instruments to intervene, while at the same time private actors are asking for more development options. Not all countries definitely choose for market mechanisms. Central issue is which international mechanisms are implemented. The research is based on a theoretical analysis of market mechanisms, which will lead to an international classification of social systems. Classifying policy lines is the basic assumption for an objective comparison. Anglo-Saxon and Nordic systems achieve better results of economic expanding than Continental systems. Those systems reveal a clear choice between market or governmental arrangement and ancillary responsibilities. In line with this framework the analysis of land markets pays special attention to the wider context of policy. Land policy is a result of these social choices and is so embedded in this context. This view arranges a new perspective. From this wider perspective the first international classification and assessment of land market policy has been designed. The international reference will introduce new opinions. From this perspective some specific instruments will shortly be analyzed. This study will function as input for later research to explore new modifications for land policy. Specific attention will be given to the question whether other mechanisms would result in a more efficient land market. The observations will be normative for further research of the land policy. It is evident that implementations and results are partially dependent on country specific institutional context. But the findings of the comparison can serve as a guide for new instruments. The ultimate objective is to create a new land market model.