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There is little evidence of regional, let alone worldwide, trends in local finances. In analyzing and comparing country experiences, it is important to be clear about the different (implicit or explicit) normative models to be found in the literature and exemplified in practice in different countries.
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The property tax is considered to be a good tax for local governments, yet property tax revenues rarely account for more than 3 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in any country. This paper explains why the property tax is under-used by highlighting some of the problems with the tax.
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This paper explores the financing of services and infrastructure in large cities and metropolitan areas. Do large cities spend more than smaller cities? Do larger cities have greater fiscal capacity? Are large cities treated differently from other cities? What are the appropriate revenue sources for large cities?
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This paper identifies some key reforms needed to ensure more citizen participation and greater accountability in urban governance, and to augment and strengthen the capacity of Indian cities to deliver more adequate services and provide needed urban infrastructure.
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Using a panel of data on the financing of the United States’ largest central cities from 1997 to 2008, the empirical results of this paper provide strong support for the hypothesis that a more diversified revenue structure generates more revenues than one that relies primarily on the property tax.
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This Big City, Big Ideas lecture features Larry Beasley, Canadian Planner Vancouver and Abu Dhabi. It is entitled Planning the Global City: Vancouver, Abu Dhabi and the world. The talk was held on November 16th, 4-6 pm, at the George Ignatieff Theatre, Trinity College.
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Presentation delivered by IMFG Director Enid Slack on October 4, 2011, sponsored by the Cities Centre, University of Toronto.
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This Big City, Big Ideas lecture features Leslie Koch, President of The Trust for Governors Island, New York. Her talk is entitled The Blue Apple.
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