ABSTRACT Our paper explores the informative power of artificial brightness, derived from meteorological satellites, in determining land values at the city-level from 1997 to 2012 in the Philippines. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to do so, thereby, contributing to the literature and to the real estate development in the country. We construct innovative longitudinal data, which captures both the temporal and spatial effects of night-time lights (NTL) intensity on zonal values. Our fixed effects panel estimates support the findings in the existing literature with caveats. The relationship between NTL and land values is nuanced and heterogenous conditional on the level of brightness and the type of land. NTL has a quadratic concave-downward effect on residential land values while a linear positive effect on commercial zonal values. The results could be attributed to the diminishing returns to urbanization, which NTL intensity is proxying for, light pollution, and signal saturation. Our results highlight the relevance of incorporating remotely sensed earth observations into the country’s cadastral and land tax systems. This process has the potential to contribute to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) such as building resilient communities and infrastructures, and reducing inequality (SDGs 9, 10 and 11).

The cost of ecological protection and restoration: Evidence from the impact of the Shan-shui project on land values

ABSTRACT This paper provides the first causal estimates of the impact of the U.S. ethanol boom on farmland values in the Midwest. Using county‐level data from the Census of Agriculture (1997–2022) and a difference‐in‐differences strategy that exploits variation in soil productivity, we find that farmland values in high corn‐suitability counties increased by $1147 per acre after 2005, equivalent to a 44% gain relative to pre‐ethanol boom levels. The effects are even larger in the most productive counties, where land values more than doubled. We also identify two reinforcing mechanisms: a short‐run response to higher corn prices and a longer‐run increase in farmland demand. These findings highlight how large‐scale energy policies can reshape rural land markets in ways that extend well beyond their intended objectives. JEL Classifications: Q11, Q24, Q28

ABSTRACT This study investigates the spatial heterogeneity of land value tax capitalization and its implications for housing affordability in Loja, Ecuador, using a novel dataset of 1419 repeat land sales (2010–2017). Employing instrumental variable approaches within both parametric (Spatial Error Models) and semi‐parametric (Generalized Additive Models) frameworks, we document significant spatial variation in tax capitalization effects. Properties located in the urban core experience a 2.5% reduction in land prices for each 1% point increase in the effective tax rate, with this effect diminishing by approximately 0.6% for every additional kilometer from the city center. This gradient reflects differences in land supply elasticity, proxied by proximity to the urban core. Although tax capitalization results in lower nominal prices near the center, it does not necessarily enhance affordability, as buyers face higher long‐term tax burdens. Moreover, institutional practices, such as systematic underassessment in rapidly appreciating areas and the shifting of fiscal burdens to slower‐growing areas, undermine the intended price‐stabilizing effects of the tax and exacerbate equity concerns. The findings emphasize the importance of complementary policies aimed at curbing land market financialization and implementing administrative reforms to better align value capture mechanisms with rapidly rising land values, particularly at the urban fringe. As the first empirical analysis of land tax capitalization in Latin America, this research contributes to the methodological understanding of spatial heterogeneity and provides critical insights for the design of equitable and effective urban fiscal policy.

ABSTRACT ‘Finding potentialities’ has become a central obsession in colonial and state-driven efforts to identify latent value in land and life forms. It functions as a primary mechanism through which multispecies colonialism operates in Papua’s wetlands. Drawing on Dutch colonial reports and the early work of Indonesian agrarian reform scholar Gunawan Wiradi, this analysis traces how an ideology rooted in technocratic and racialized logics has reshaped Papuan landscapes over time. The argument proceeds in three parts. First , ‘finding potentiality’ has a clear historical genealogy in the Dutch colonial project of converting wetlands into sites of large-scale agricultural production. Wetlands were framed as idle, invisible, and unproductive – a view later adopted by the Indonesian state after 1963, enabling interventions such as transmigration. Second , this logic operates as a form of multispecies colonialism. Settler colonialism projects under the Indonesian government in Papua extend beyond the control of human populations to include the deliberate introduction and management of non-native plants and animals. Third , a fundamental tension emerges between the future-oriented, extractive vision of potentiality and the present-oriented realities of Indigenous Papuans. For colonial and state actors, potential is tied to projected economic value and is used to justify the transformation of existing ecologies in the name of future gains. This perspective reduces the biodiverse regions to a measurable and exploitable resource, often framed as a ‘pool of genes’, while not only disregarding subsistence practices but also produce land dispossession and disrupt Papuan relationships to their ecological time and place.

Rapid urban expansion and land-use changes have increasingly encroached upon wetland ecosystems, leading to their degradation and loss, particularly in developing regions where planning control is limited. In cities like Port Harcourt, this has resulted in a transition from informal wetland settlements to more structured residential developments, raising critical concerns for sustainable urban planning and environmental management. This study examines the emergence and expansion of wetland neighbourhoods in Port Harcourt, focusing on their spatial patterns, socio-economic characteristics, underlying drivers, and implications for urban planning. Rapid urbanization, rising land values, and increasing housing costs within the formal urban core have intensified pressure on marginal lands, leading to settlement growth in environmentally sensitive wetland areas. A mixed-method approach was adopted, combining 131 structured questionnaires across six purposively selected neighbourhoods with field observations and geospatial analysis. Spatial techniques, including a distance matrix, were used to assess the relationship between settlement location and proximity to major road infrastructure. Findings reveal that wetland neighbourhoods are increasingly occupied by middle-income residents, indicating a transition from traditional low-income informal settlements to more hybrid development forms. Key drivers include housing affordability constraints, accessibility to transport corridors, availability of low-cost land, and weak development control mechanisms. Despite their accessibility, these neighbourhoods exhibit planning deficiencies such as irregular layouts, inadequate infrastructure, encroachment into drainage channels, and heightened flood vulnerability. The study concludes that wetland urbanization reflects structural housing and governance challenges and underscores the need for integrated, risk-sensitive planning approaches supported by geospatial technologies.

Abstract Scottish historiography often describes late medieval Scotland as experiencing socio-economic stagnation while at the same time witnessing a shift from feudal to post-feudal lordship. This paper reevaluates that interpretation through a case study of the Abbey of Arbroath’s estate management in northeast Scotland in the late 15 th and early 16 th centuries. Drawing on previously underused cartularies and leases, the study demonstrates that rising lordly demand for cash – particularly the need to meet papal financial requirements – triggered active estate management, increased leasing, and partial commercialisation. Contrary to the narrative of stagnation, rents and land values improved earlier than assumed, and rural commercialisation was underway in the 15 th century. The continued collection of labour and in-kind dues nevertheless shows the persistence of feudal economic structures, which were shaped and limited by lordly demand. This bottom-up, regional perspective calls for a revision of conventional assumptions, arguing that late medieval Scotland’s feudal economy was more dynamic, adaptive, and commercially engaged than previously recognised.

Abstract We construct a county-to-county transport cost dataset for the USA from 1820 to 1860, using freight rates specific to time, region, and transport direction, alongside historical transport networks. We analyze the impact of canals and railways on transport costs, market access, and land values. By 1860, these infrastructures shifted the highest market access from the Atlantic coast to the Midwest and Great Lakes. Market access positively correlated with land value changes in 1850–1860. Both new transport infrastructure and reduced freight costs significantly lowered transport costs, driving economic shifts.

The subject of the study is the process of formation, development and use of human resources in the field of geodesy and land management in the context of transformation of land relations, decentralization of management, digitalization and post-war restoration of the territories of Ukraine. The aim of the study is a comprehensive study of the theoretical and applied principles of human resource development in the field of geodesy and land management in the context of transformation of land relations, decentralization, digitalization, and post-war restoration of the territories of Ukraine in the context of international integration. Research methods. In the research process, a set of general scientific and special methods was used, in particular: the method of analysis and synthesis – to generalize theoretical approaches to the essence of human resources potential in the field of geodesy and land management; a systemic approach – to consider human resources potential as a component of the land resources management system; comparative analysis – to assess the state of the labor market and identify imbalances between the demand and supply of personnel; a structural and functional method – to determine the role and functions of human resources potential in the field of geodesy and land management; an institutional approach – to study the influence of the education system, professional certification and the labor market on the formation of human resources potential; a generalization method – to formulate conclusions and develop recommendations for the development of human resources potential. The use of these methods ensured the comprehensiveness of the research and the validity of the results obtained. Results of work. The article examines the theoretical and applied foundations of human resource potential development in the field of geodesy and land management under the conditions of transformation of land relations, decentralization of governance, digitalization, and post-war recovery of Ukrainian territories. Scientific approaches to the interpretation of human resource potential are generalized as a set of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of personnel that determine their ability to ensure the effective performance of professional functions within the land resource management system. It is substantiated that human resource potential in geodesy and land management is a strategic resource that determines the quality of land cadastre maintenance, land management documentation development, spatial planning, land valuation, as well as control over land use and protection. The current state of the labor market in the field of geodesy and land management is analyzed on the basis of data from the State Employment Service of Ukraine, which made it possible to identify imbalances between labor demand and supply, a shortage of specialists in territorial communities, especially in rural areas, and uneven staffing across individual professional groups. It is determined that a modern land management specialist should possess not only professional knowledge in the field of land relations, cadastral accounting, and land management, but also managerial, digital, and interdisciplinary competencies. The importance of integrating geographic information systems, remote sensing, digital cadastres, and spatial analytics into the educational process and continuing professional development system is emphasized. The expediency of a comprehensive approach to the development of human resource potential in the field of geodesy and land management is substantiated, including modernization of educational programs, strengthening practice-oriented and dual education, development of postgraduate education, expansion of stakeholder interaction, support for young specialists, and intensification of international partnership. It has been proven that the implementation of these measures will contribute to the formation of a competitive human resource pool capable of ensuring effective management of land resources, spatial development of territories, and fulfillment of the tasks of Ukraine’s post-war recovery.

Customary fines are sanctions imposed on individuals or groups who violate customary norms or traditional rules, with the aim of restoring the disturbed balance and serving as a means of social control when problems arise within a community. In Timorese customary society, customary fines continue to play an important role as a mechanism for dispute resolution, including in cases of land grabbing accompanied by violence. This study aims to analyze the application of customary fines in resolving cases of violent land grabbing under Timorese customary law in Taebenu District and to identify the factors influencing their effectiveness. This research employs an empirical legal method with a sociological juridical approach. Data were collected through interviews with customary leaders, village officials, perpetrators, and victims, and were supported by a literature review of relevant legal materials. The findings indicate that the imposition of customary fines is carried out through customary deliberation mechanisms involving customary leaders, community leaders, village authorities, and the disputing parties. The customary sanctions generally consist of a combination of rice, pigs, and cash, with the amount determined according to the level of fault and the impact of the act committed. Substantively, the application of customary fines functions not only as a sanction but also as a means of restoring social relationships, maintaining community balance, and achieving peaceful conflict resolution. Normatively and culturally, this mechanism continues to be respected and practiced by the community as an integral part of Timorese customary values. The effectiveness of customary fines is supported by strong local wisdom, community respect for customary authorities, the moral pressure and social shame generated by customary sanctions, and the enduring culture of deliberation within the community. However, several obstacles remain, including the increasing economic value of land, unclear land boundaries and inheritance status, imbalance between the imposed fines and the material losses suffered by victims, and the influence of modernization that encourages some individuals to seek resolution through formal state law. These factors indicate that customary fines have not yet fully prevented the recurrence of violent land grabbing cases.

Examining the mismatch between regulatory flood boundaries and actual flood extent: Evidence from the 2019 Nebraska floods

Commodity imports by the European Union (EU) are an important driver of land use change in agricultural producer countries. The new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) encompasses seven relevant commodities that can only enter the EU market if they are certified deforestation-free. The EUDR may lead to changes in land use governance and value chain governance of major trading partner countries, which can be described as telecoupling at the policy level. This study develops ‘telecoupling of governance systems’ conceptually and presents a generally applicable framework. The framework is then applied to the EUDR. Based on document analyses and expert interviews, we discuss four possible scenarios of the varying impacts of the EUDR on forest conservation. If only the private sector adapts to EUDR, a ‘business as unusual’ scenario is likely to prevail, which can turn into a ‘higher, faster, further together’ scenario if coupled with public policies. If other countries such as China adopt similar measures, it can lead to a ‘third-party game changer’ or even a ‘telecoupled revolution’ for environmental governance systems in Brazil. However, the experience with the EUDR in Brazil so far is mixed. On the one hand, telecoupling between environmental governance systems can be made difficult through non-participatory processes and domestic and international economic and political situations, which can lead to rejections in producer countries. On the other hand, telecoupling between environmental governance systems can have a significant impact on deforestation if linked to national systems and supported by international cooperation and coordination. • The concept for ‘telecoupling of governance systems’ is being developed. • A generally applicable conceptual framework is applied on the EUDR. • Four scenarios show that telecoupling of governance systems can affect deforestation in Brazil to varying degrees. • This depends on synergies between public and private actors' responses and similar regulations in other importing countries.

I study the long-run economic effects of land concentration on the American frontier. Using quasi-random variation in initial land allocations from a checkerboard formula, I analyze a large database of property assessments and find that historical concentration reduced modern land values by 4.5 percent and fixed capital by 23 percent. Modern effect sizes are 23–64 percent of their historical equivalents, indicating significant rates of both persistence and convergence over the last 150 years. Using archival data on tenant contracts, I argue that the low-powered incentives of share agreements discouraged investment by large-scale owners with long-term effects. (JEL D82, G31, N41, N51, Q12, Q15, Q24)

This study was conducted to assess the impact of motorway infrastructure projects on land use change and livelihood strategies of farming households in the rural areas of the Punjab, Pakistan. Study was conducted during 2023-24. There is a general agreement on the fact that one of the most important factors for the development of the region, is transport infrastructure, which creates new livelihood opportunities. However, land use change from agriculture to non- agricultural purpose known as land conversion can also be an outcome of road construction. land conversion has also disturbed the balance of environment and particularly agricultural biodiversity. In this context, the objective of the research was to assess the impact of motorway infrastructure projects on cropping pattern change and rural livelihoods in Punjab, Pakistan. For sampling purpose, a multistage method was applied to obtain a required information from 400 farming households. There are five motorways in Punjab Province, and out of these, three motorways were constructed during the last four years. Two newly constructed motorways were selected randomly. One tehsil from each region was selected purposely from where the motorways were being passed. From each tehsil, two union councils were selected purposely and after selection of union councils, three villages were selected, and from each village farming households were selected proportionately. The results obtained indicated after motorway construction, that 57.5% of respondents reported increase in their income through non-farming sources. ‘increased in the land value’ with the respondent’s opinion placed at ranked 1st and ‘Increased the no. of restaurants were ranked 6th position with mean value of 4.36 and 3.90 respectively. Similarly, more than half (55.5%) of respondent’s household’s assets were increased. Similarly, ‘agric. land decreased’ ‘intensive agric. Increased’ were ranked 4th and 5th with mean values of 3.06, 2.96 respectively. The results also indicate that, ‘Govt. policies affect cropping patterns’ with mean value of 3.83 were ranked at 1st position and moreover, ’Information from extension (private)’ were placed at ranked 2nd with mean value of 3.57. Market prices affect cropping patterns ranked at 3rd position with mean value of 3.32. Similarly, ‘Change in market demand’ were kept at ranked 4th with mean value of 3.24, and’ Information from extension services (public)’ were placed at ranked 5th with mean value of 3.20

The article presents a comprehensive study aimed at the theoretical substantiation and assessment of ecological and economic determinants of agricultural land value formation in de-occupied territories (using the Brovary district of the Kyiv region as a case study). The relevance of the research is driven by the necessity for an objective evaluation of land assets directly affected by hostilities. To achieve the research objectives, a comparative analysis of market prices was conducted, contrasting the pre-war period (2021–2022) with the post-occupation period (2024–2025) based on secondary market data.The results of the analysis revealed a significant decrease in the average value of agricultural land. It was determined that different types of land use in this category experienced different decreases in value. Key ecological and economic factors that affect the change in the value of land were identified and substantiated, in particular, technogenic pollution as a result of military actions and changes in the structure of the offer market. The study also took into account the factor of the high cost of demining and, if necessary, reclamation of agricultural land.The results of the study emphasize the heterogeneity of the impact of war on different types of agricultural lands and indicate the need to develop comprehensive programs of restoration, reclamation and economic stimulation to increase the investment attractiveness of these territories.Received: 09.12.2025;Accepted:18.03.2026

Effectively adapting to climate change requires long-term investment strategies informed by climate forecasts. This paper presents methods and a case study assessing how an investor would approach sequential land investments in the Mississippi River Basin (MRB) using 32 climate models under two emission scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). Each model produces projected farmland values, which are used in a robust optimisation framework to identify optimal investment policies under varying levels of conservatism–reflecting the degree to which worst-case outcomes are considered. The model is linearised and scalable across long horizons and asset sets. The case study spans 2023–2090 and uses regression-based projections of land values. Robust investment strategies are derived for each climate model and scenario. Results show that as conservatism increases, investment becomes more geographically constrained, with significant variation in optimal regions. While all climate forecasts predict warming, the regions benefiting from such changes vary by model and scenario. Investment patterns range from concentration in specific areas to broad diversification or complete withdrawal. The analysis underscores substantial disagreements among climate models, which critically affect spatial investment decisions and highlight the importance of robust planning under climate uncertainty.

The present investigation entitled “Depth Wise Assessment of Soil Chemical Indicators under different land uses in District Pulwama of Kashmir valley” was carried out with a view to ascertain the chemical indicators of soils under different land uses viz. Horticulture, Agriculture and Forestry. Purposive sampling method was followed, and composite soil samples were collected from fifteen locations in each land use at two depths: surface (0-15cm) and sub-surface (15-30 cm). The soil samples processed and analyzed for chemical indicators (pH, EC, OC, macronutrients and micronutrients like Zn, Cu, Fe & Mn) by using standard techniques. Soil pH varied from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline under examined land uses and it showed an increasing trend in all the land uses with soil depth. The electrical conductivity values of different land uses was less than 1 dSm-1 indicating no salinity hazard All the macro and micronutrients showed a decreasing trend with the increase in soil depth except calcium and magnesium. It was concluded that chemical indicators assessed for different land uses were found higher in forestry as compared to horticulture and agriculture and decreased with increase in depth.

The stable development of rural areas largely depends on the availability of up-to-date spatial information that ensures effective management of land resources and territorial planning. In Kazakhstan, characterized by vast rural territories, uneven population distribution, and demographic changes, the use of modern digital tools that enable the integration of topographic and statistical data becomes particularly important. The objective is to analyze the use of GIS-based databases in rural areas and assess their role as an analytical basis for geographical research, monitoring, and management of transformation processes in rural districts. The study emphasizes the integration of population indicators and land use indicators into a unified geoinformation archive. Methods include landscape analysis and cartographic modeling with the implementation of geoinformation systems in the processing and visualization of land management materials and geospatial documentation. GIS methods were used to calculate the density of the rural population and to identify spatial and temporal fluctuations in demographic parameters. Results – a GIS database was formed, providing the ability to analyze the degree of settlement of rural localities and its dynamics. GIS-based mapping identified regions with high and low concentrations of rural population, as well as territorial units showing trends toward decline or relative stability in the number of rural residents. The developed structure of the GIS database contributes to the synthesis of demo graphic, land, and spatial digital values into a unified information environment. Conclusions – the use of GIS-based databases increases the accuracy and effectiveness of management in rural regions. They should be considered a priority direction for modernizing the system of land regulation and ensuring balanced economic growth of rural areas of the republic.

ABSTRACT There is a growing urgency to address economic and ecological injustices related to land use and distribution. One of the most pressing concerns includes the increasing acquisition of land for investment purposes. The financialization of land contributes to the expansion of industrial agriculture as well as growing inequality and rising costs in the value of land. In light of these issues, an egalitarian approach to socializing productive capital might seem like a good solution. In this article, I argue that socialization, as conceived in some contemporary models of property‐owning democracy (POD), encounters two problems as a solution to the financialization of land. First, insofar as POD theorizes property ownership in terms of corporate share ownership, it does not ensure sufficient control over an asset by its owner. Second, because land is a source of natural capital, and, therefore, susceptible to ecological depletion, it should not be treated like other income‐producing assets on the POD model. I conclude with a proposal for how such theories might be modified to address the special requirements of land in their approach to socialization.

The article considers the main approaches to the valuation of land plots - determining the market value and the value for taxation (mass valuation). The main stages of conducting a mass valuation are established, where one of the main ones is the collection of statistical information on transactions. The main sources of information for the purposes of mass valuation of land are state cadastres and registers that keep records of real estate objects. In Ukraine, to solve this problem, the State Service of Ukraine for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre maintains the functionality "Monitoring of Land Relations", but it has a number of significant shortcomings, such as the lack of information and its low reliability, which indicates the need to improve the processes of collecting, entering and processing data, and there is also a need to establish restrictions at the legislative level regarding transactions that will be used to determine the market value of a land plot. The key factors in pricing in the Kharkiv region remain the geographical location of land plots in relation to the front line, as well as the normative monetary value; in areas where there are no hostilities (Bogodukhiv, Berestyn and Kharkiv districts), there is a tendency to increase the transaction price compared to the normative monetary value. The analysis of statistical data on the dynamics of the number of transactions and the ratio of the transaction price to the normative monetary valuation of agricultural land in the Kharkiv region for 2021–2025 showed a significant impact of military operations on the functioning of the land market and the results of mass valuation. In areas that have experienced active hostilities or temporary occupation, there is a sharp reduction in the number of transactions and a minimal or almost absent excess of the market price over the NGO, which indicates high security risks and loss of investment attractiveness. In contrast, in relatively safe areas and near the regional center, there is a restoration of market activity and a significant increase in the excess of the transaction price over the normative monetary valuation, which reflects the redistribution of demand and territorial asymmetry of the market. The results obtained confirm that in conditions of military instability, the application of mass land valuation models requires mandatory consideration of the spatial security factor, the status of territories, and adjustment of statistical models in order to increase the reliability of the valuation results. Based on the analysis of transaction prices and the normative monetary valuation, it is advisable to identify valuation areas in which the transaction price is either equal to the normative monetary valuation or slightly higher (for example, up to 15%), and in them to leave the normative monetary valuation as the value for taxation, in another territory to use statistical and mathematical models to determine the market value of the land plot.