Do Shrinking Cities Allow Redevelopment Without Displacement? An Analysis of Affordability Based on Housing and Transportation Costs for Redeveloping,Declining, and Stable Neighborhoods

Abstract

Plans and policies to combat or mitigate gentrification typically pursue affordable housing production and preservation as the primary mechanism to avoid displacement. However, it is unclear whether affordable housing financing mechanisms function as designed in weak market cities. As such, we question whether the housing-only approach is a complete one and whether increased transportation investments in redeveloping neighborhoods in shrinking cities can be leveraged to improve the lives of the poor. Our results suggest that funding for subsidized housing does not produce units affordable to the poor in declining cities, limiting the efficacy of a housing-only approach. Furthermore, we find that transportation costs make up a larger proportion of household budgets among families living in declining neighborhoods. These results suggest that transportation improvements—particularly those aimed at bicycling and pedestrian accessibility—may be the most efficient approach to mitigating displacement and improving quality of life for low-income households in shrinking cities.     

The road home: an examination of the successes and challenges of housing non-profits in New Orleans since Katrina

Hurricane Katrina claimed the lives of nearly 1000 Louisiana residents and damaged about 80% of the building stock in New Orleans. Unequal protection from the hurricane and uneven recovery patterns have left some communities (predominantly low-income and black) with few options to rebuild their homes. These factors have created a high demand for housing non-profits specializing in new construction as well as low-cost home repairs. Drawing from interviews with a number of stakeholders including non-profits completing home repairs and new construction for low-income residents, this article identifies the type, amount and target areas for work done by housing non-profits in post-Katrina New Orleans. Additionally, it identifies the challenges for future work and limitations in the non-profits’ ability to address housing inequity in New Orleans.     

Research on the Residential Satisfaction with Public Housing——Evidence from Zhejiang

Public housing policies focus on the needs of low-income households. The level of residential satisfaction plays a key role in the assessment of government performance. This paper reviews researches on the residential satisfaction of inhabitants living in public houses and introduces relevant national practices. Based on data from Zhejiang, we found that the average residential satisfaction level is “relatively satisfactory” on the part of the inhabitants. They seem to be satisfied with the supply quantity but a little dissatisfied with the distribution fairness. The factor analysis suggests key factors that significantly affect the residential satisfaction. The study also shows that most inhabitants expect house quality improvement with big developers and are ready to accept the rising price for better quality.     

论行贿犯罪惩治不力的原因和对策

我国目前惩治行贿犯罪的力度远远低于惩治受贿犯罪,造成这种状况的主要原因是人们对行贿犯罪危害性认识不够、对行贿犯罪采取从宽处理的刑事政策、"谋取不正当利益"构成要件造成行贿犯罪认定难、检察机关侦查措施和手段不足等。对此,应当提高对行贿犯罪社会危害严重性和惩治行贿犯罪重要性的认识、完善刑法的有关规定、赋予检察机关必要的侦查手段、形成防治行贿犯罪的合力,以加大惩治行贿犯罪的力度。     

精神利益对人的活力的影响初探

马克思主义理论认为人的活力是人在实践活动过程中表现出来的人的本质力量,它由自主性、积极性和创造性三部分构成。情感、尊重、荣誉、求知、社会交往、实现自身价值及理想信念等精神需要对人的活力的发挥具有重要影响。所以,在实践中重视人们的精神利益要求,更加关注现实中精神利益对人和社会活力的积极和消极影响,是构建充满活力的社会主义和谐社会一个重要因素。     

完善我国城镇住房保障制度的思考

完善我国住房保障制度,是保障中低收入者的居住权,构建社会主义和谐社会的重要方面,需要从科学定位政府职能、增加经济适用房与廉租房的有效供给、完善福利住房保障体系、多渠道保障住房资金来源、制定相关的法律法规等方面,保证住房保障制度的建立与完善。     

信赖与信赖利益考

信赖是当事人相信要约或合同而为签订合同所导致的财产减少和与他人订约机会的丧失,信赖利益是对合同或要约赋予了信赖一方当事人所故有的,因信赖可能或已经受到损失的利益,对信赖利益的救济包括期待利益损害赔偿和信赖损害赔偿两种手段,且对信赖利益的损害赔偿不应以期待利益为限。     

毛泽东对外经济交往思想探析

有人认为毛泽东自觉不自觉地实行了一套闭关锁国政策。本通过对毛泽东在三个历史时期对外经济交往思想的考察,得出了倡导对外开放,积极开展对外经济交往是毛泽东的一贯思想的结论。同时也扼要地指出了毛泽东对外开放和对外经济交往思想的某些局限性以及造成这些局限性的原因。邓小平突破了这些局限性,把我国的对外开放推向了一个新的阶段。     

水域污染的社会学解释——东村个案研究

本文选择太湖流域的东村进行田野调查 ,发现 ,传统社会水域保持清洁的原因是 :农业社会长期形成的生产、生活方式有利于圩田系统的生态平衡 ,并且 ,村落的社会规范及村民的道德意识也有效地约束了村民的水污染行动。 90年代以来 ,东村及其周围水域被迅速污染。水域污染问题主要不是科学技术问题 ,而是经济社会问题。利益主体力量的失衡、农村基层组织的行政化与村民自组织的消亡以及农村社区传统伦理规范的丧失是造成水域污染的主要原因。与市场经济体系相适应的法律制度建设是解决水污染问题的根本途径     

纠纷成本与诉讼效益分析

本文试图用经济学的基本理论和方法对纠纷的成本与诉讼效益做一分析。纠纷妨碍了交易和效益 ,增加了成本。在诉讼中和通过诉讼 ,做到尽量避免纠纷对收益的不利影响 ,努力减少纠纷成本 ,并影响和减少纠纷的数量 ,这就是诉讼之效益。