ABSTRACT
The criteria for judging future success are encapsulated by two objectives: preserving arable land at the urban periphery, while completing property rights reforms in urban areas. The issue of preserving arable land has become clearer after examining the problem from both the perspective of the cities that supervise each local metropolitan region and that of local authorities in the metropolitan periphery who make day-to-day decisions. All cities land is it newly-urbanised, redeveloped, or claimed by existing users, should be forced to the discipline of the market. A one-time payment for the right to lease land can be justified for many reasons, including the need to help finance the major infrastructure public works that make a town or city viable. The cited World Bank report urged state authorities to establish a Leading Group on Urbanisation, thus forcing otherwise independent minded Ministries and Commissions to work together.
