Self-financed research

Since fall 2021

Responsible persons:

Prof. Dr. Karsten Zimmermann, Dr. Patricia Feiertag

In collaboration with  Dr. Katarzyna Szmigiel-Rawska, University of Warsaw

We investigate negotiation processes on land use at the local level. The aim is to identify influencing factors that explain the differing extend of land use change in the municipalities. Previous studies have mainly investigated the impact of economic, demographic and fiscal factors on land use change. Political-institutional influencing factors have mostly been ignored. Local politicians are often assumed to have a general interest in growth.

Our study consists of a quantitative and a qualitative part. It focuses on the land use policy of the municipalities in NRW. In the quantitative part, which has already been completed, an index for land use change 2012-1018 was calculated and explanatory variables were tested with the help of spatial models to map the mediation of interests. The analyses were led by Katarzyna Szmigiel-Rawska together with methodologically similar modeling for Sweden, Poland, Portugal and Norway. The qualitative continuation is based on these results and focuses on influential interest groups, including residents with above-average incomes and their position on land take, the influence of building land designation in neighboring municipalities and party positions on land take. Document analyses have already been carried out for six municipalities. The next step, starting in fall 2024, will involve interviews with city administrators and local politicians on negotiation processes regarding zoning.

Publications:

Feiertag, Patricia; Zimmermann, Karsten & Szmigiel-Rawska,Katarzyna (2023) Does politics matter? Eine Untersuchung zu politisch-institutionellen Einflussfaktoren auf die Flächeninanspruchnahme. In: Raumplanung, 223/ 5-2023, 34-40.

Presentations:

Feiertag, Patricia: “Wealthy inhabitants and their attitude towards land use change”, Conference: UAA/EURA 2024 “Cities on the Edge”, New York, 26^th April 2024

Szmigiel-Rawska, Katarzyna & Zimmermann, Karsten: “Institutional factors explaining land use changes: The case of North-Rhine-Westphalia (Germany)”, Conference:  EURA 2023 “The European City: A practice of resilience in the face of an uncertain future”, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, 24^th June 2023