This evaluation of social housing finance in Europe is placed in the context of the purpose of social housing, the sources of funds and the institutions that are used for provision. The effectiveness of social housing finance systems and the transferability of European approaches to other countries, particularly the developing world, are discussed. 

The analysis shows that an examination of the appropriate standards for decent housing and the barriers to market sector institutions meeting housing needs can usefully be investigated before alternative new institutions are created. If existing institutions are judged to be capable of delivery but financial incentives are inadequate, the focus should be on the best form of incentives. The use of a contractual form of provision is seen as a useful means of tying incentives to supply and potentially promoting good value for money.

It is argued that the European experience shows that housing finance that supports low income households is likely to involve a subsidy and that some form of subsidy and thus some form of transfer of resources into social housing will be needed if social housing is to have a social purpose that includes meeting housing needs as opposed to satisfying housing demand.

This paper reviews the dramatic transformations which have taken place in the cities of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union since the collapse of communist regimes in the region twenty years ago.

The paper further analyzes how urban planning 'the indispensable public function which aims to guide and manage urban change' evolved in response to the new urban challenges.

The transitional European countries are now in different stages of their transition to prosperous, just and democratic societies.As we look at the challenges of the future, The State of European Cities in Transition 2013 offers insight and analysis to inform and enlighten. Also view the Russian Version and the Abridged Version.

Following a widely used structure for describing property tax systems, this report provides a survey of European property tax regimes. Distinguishing the various other categories of taxes on property, it focuses on recurrent taxes on immovable property. It analyzes differences in the utilization of property taxes across the countries in Europe.

It discusses fiscal arrangements, including the power to tax property, revenue assignments, and how tax rates are determined. It describes such design features as who is responsible for paying recurrent taxes on immovable property, which categories of property are taxable, and the basis for the tax. Strategies for providing tax relief are discussed. It discusses administrative arrangements generally and provides comparative detail on cadastral and valuation systems.

The transitional European countries are now in different stages of their transition to prosperous, just and democratic societies. As we look at the challenges of the future, The State of European Cities in Transition 2013 offers insight and analysis to inform and enlighten.

This volume investigates the state of affordable land and housing in Europe and North America (countries that comprise the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). It explores the major trends in housing provision, conditions, availability, and quality; analyses housing policy responses and practices; and provides key recommendations for local, national and international policy initiatives that can increase affordable housing supply.

This volume demonstrates that housing affordability is a pervasive and escalating issue in European and North American countries. Rising socio-economic inequalities are gentrifying and dividing cities and making adequate housing unaffordable for low- and many middle-income households. The rental housing stock has been diminished in favour of home-ownership which is invariably more expensive and difficult to secure.

Furthermore, the need for essential maintenance and the high cost of services in post-war multi-storey housing in Eastern European countries is placing additional pressure on housing affordability in these countries.