MEASURING REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT DISPARITIES: SOME METHODOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND EVIDENCE FROM ARMENIA AND SERBIA

Tigran MNATSAKANYAN

Ph.D. in Economics, Armenian State University of Economics

tigran.mnatsakanyan.am@gmail.com

Ruben HAYRAPETYAN

Doctor of Sciences in Economics, Professor, Armenian State University of Economics, City Councilor at Yerevan City Council

ruben_hayrapetyan@yahoo.com

Dejan MOLNAR

Ph.D. in Economics, Associate Professor, University of Belgrade – Faculty of Economics

dejan.molnar@ekof.bg.ac.rs

Abstract

There are manifestations of regional development disparities in almost every country, but this phenomenon is especially dangerous in those countries that have only one “center of gravity”. Significantly more developed capital can transform itself from “center of gravity” to a “black hole” by emptying the potential of the regions. To prevent such a destructive scenario, it is firstly necessary to disclose the roots of regional development disparity, and the reasons for its subjective perception. Without these steps, any intervention, policy, or measure taken or implemented by the state can aggravate further disproportion or at least be ineffective. Only after discovering the above-mentioned roots, it will become possible to develop a comprehensive strategy for overcoming regional disproportionate development and derive from it a complex of effective measures. All these goals are intended to be achieved within the framework of the research funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia within the support program for young researchers (project code: 19YR-5B038). This paper focuses mainly on discussion of regional disparity measurement tools and development of a tool appropriate not only for accurate measurements, but also for serving as a motivational tool for authorities. Calculations have been made for Armenia and Serbia, taking into consideration several key similarities of economic, social, and cultural nature, which have significantly influenced the perception of local governance and role of communities, as well as the mindset toward socioeconomic processes in general.

Keywords: regional development, regional disparity, measurement, development indicator, governance

JEL classification: H700, H770, H830, R500, R580

 pp. 327-348

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DETERMINANTS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALLOCATION: COMMON PERSPECTIVES FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS

Xiang CAI

Lecturer, The University of Texas at Dallas,

xiang.cai@utdallas.edu

Abstract

In response to the wide social concerns of exponential price inflation and the severe demand for affordable housing over the last decade, the Chinese government has enforced a national plan to enhance the large-scale construction and provision of affordable housing, while municipal governments are responsible at the local level for implementation and allocation via various housing provision programs. In this paper we collected first-hand data from a series of personal interviews with government officials to conduct a systematic analysis of the challenges of housing allocation from the perspectives of administrators at the city level. In light of the responses from practitioners, the four main concerns giving rise to low efficiency and unfairness in housing allocation are: the faction of agencies, ineffective monitoring systems, the lack of transparency of information, and the absence of legal enforcement. Legal enforcement is the most important institutional establishment as it stipulates agency collaboration and monitoring. Transparency, which is affected by legal enforcement, also enhances cooperation among departments.

Keywords: Affordable Housing, Determinants, Allocation and Distribution, Local Officials

JEL classification: R5, R580
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