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- Info
Landowner behavior at the rural-urban fringe in response to preferential property taxation
| Author: |
Hansen, D.E.; Schwartz, S.I. |
| Date: |
1975 |
| Periodical: |
Land Economics |
| Abstract: |
The major conclusion of our study agrees with those of most other researchers-that use-value assessment programs can be expected to have only a limited effect on land use. However, both our present study and earlier theoretical findings differ from other studies in suggesting that higher numbers of landowners at the urban fringe should enroll if they are economically rational and not excessively inclined towards risk acceptance. In view of our findings about the perceptions and behavior of landowners we would not expect substantially higher rates of participation. Yet, even if expectations were to change and enrollments to increase, we would still anticipate that use-value assessment would be ineffective in reducing sprawl because of the scattered nature of fringe area enrollment. Only if a stronger regulatory stance by local government were the cause of reduced development expectations would we expect a decrease in sprawl to accompany higher enrollments. In that case, reduction in sprawl should be attributed to changes in regulatory action rather than the use-value assessment program itself. The primary advantage of use-value assessment appears to be that it allows some farmers to continue in agriculture at their present location. Although it may slow the pace of land conversion temporarily, use-value taxation does not appear to be capable of substantially altering the timing or pattern of development. |
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