Policy in the Pub: Designing the market for development rights

Designing the market for development rights 

Dr Spiller argues that the oft-cited ‘windfall gains’ attaching to planning approvals are simply capitalised monopoly rents arising from warranted barriers to entry in the market for development rights. While there are many in the literature calling for taxes on ‘planning gain’ or ‘betterment’, he suggests an alternative policy strategy involving charging proponents for privileged access to regulated development permits.

About the speaker

Dr Marcus Spiller is a Principal, Partner and Director of SGS Economics & Planning Pty Ltd.  His consulting experience spans land economics, regional development, housing policy, infrastructure funding and policy co-ordination systems.  He has taken up secondments as lecturer in urban economics at Melbourne University, adviser to the Minister for Planning and Housing in Victoria and senior executive in the Queensland Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning.  He is an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University and at the University of NSW, an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, a former member of the National Housing Supply Council and a former National President of the Planning Institute of Australia.  With Prof Kath Wellman he has written and edited a book on infrastructure funding and finance, published internationally by Wiley.

Event details

The evening is being held 5.30pm Wednesday 17 May 2017 at the Kelvin Club 14-30 Melbourne Place, just off Russell St. There will be drinks and nibbles from 5pm for those who can get there a bit earlier.