Development Charges

The book reviews development charges globally and in the specific case of India to show how they are inadequate. It suggests ways to levy development charges that are legally sound, transparent, equitable, and politically and administratively feasible.

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The book uses the two key findings of the extant literature-the need to empower urban local governments and to employ a variety of local revenue sources-to advance the field of local government finance by studying an important fee-based revenue source - development charges. It begins by situating development charges in the larger ecosystem of local public finance and identifying factors to be considered while designing and implementing a development charge program. Next, it reviews the use of development charges globally, especially in Australia, South Africa, and the US. After that, through a comparative analysis of development charge programs in India and the US, and simulations, the book shows how development charges are inadequate for urban India's and the Global South's infrastructure needs. Finally, it suggests ways to levy development charges that are legally sound, transparent, equitable, and politically and administratively feasible while providing a robust revenue stream.