No description available.

No description available.

A central goal of urban and economic development planning is producing policies and programs to promote economic growth. Urban planners and economic planners always struggle to define economic development policies to improve the growth in way that enhance the quality of life in the community people live and work. Hence, investigation of factors affecting economic growth at the regional level helps decision makers such as urban planners and economic development planners develop smarter policies to increase more opportunities for economic growth. This project aims to look at economic growth from the perspective of urban economic development planners. The main questions of this study include: What is economic growth at the regional level, and what factors influence the growth of US urban regions? Is there any relationship between transportation investments and economic growth? What can urban planners and economic development planners learn from the findings of the growth literature that can better link urban planning with economic development planning and policies? I used research synthesis/meta-study method to review a wide range of studies devoted to economic growth. As neoclassical economists discussed, labor, capital, and human capital and technology are the primary production factors. However, contemporary literature reveals secondary factors that stimulate the efficiency and quality of these primary factors. My findings show that secondary factors such as transportation infrastructure, amenities (schools, housing, weather, and historical, cultural, and recreational centers) and disamenities (pollution, road congestion, and crime rate) influence regional economic growth process. These material factors of economic growth are typically addressed by economists and economic development planners via quantitative analysis of the variables associated with per-capita regional GDP growth. I find, however; that urban planners address a qualitative set of secondary factors related to social norms and institutions. The normative factors include equity, diversity, and housing affordability, and the procedural factors are: public participation, government policies over land use and land development. By reviewing existing regional economic planning, I highlight the lack of strong linkage between economic development planners and urban planners. In the end, an economic growth guideline is developed which might help decision makers such as urban planners and economic development planners derive smarter policies to increase opportunities for economic growth and development. / text

No description available.

Thesis (M.U.D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-72).

Thesis (M.U.D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-72) Also available in print.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

A main challenge facing spatial planning today issustainable development, in official documents defined asecological, social and economic sustainability. In a powerperspective these three dimensions can be characterised ascompeting discourses. Another challenge facing local authorityplanners is how to work in open processes with a growing numberof actors and stakeholders, in addition often as parties inchanging organisations. Altogether this provides a very complexcontext for local authority spatial planning and itsprofessional planners. This report is based on an investigation of how politicaland societal activities on European, national and local levelsare influencing the local authority spatial planning processes.The focus is on how planning is being administrated, and howplanning officers can manage planning processes in complexcontexts. The main research questions are how political visionsand objectives regarding sustainable development are managed inlocal authority spatial planning? And how can the growingnumber of actors and stakeholders with a wide range ofknowledge, interests and values be managed in such complexplanning contexts? Two case studies in Sweden have provided the empiricalmaterial. The first is a study of planners in local authoritiesof various sizes and spread geographic locations. The second isa detailed study of the planning organisation in a medium-sizedlocal authority with two major on-going planning processes.Qualitative research methods have been used in theinvestigation, direct interviews with the main actors, documentstudies and observations. The result of this study is an understanding of some theelements and connections in the complex situation facing thelocal authority planning administrations. These are describedin terms of competing policy discourses, each of which isrelated to and managed in different local planning directions.Why some discourses are stronger than others is discussed. Alsoidentified in the study are the problems involved in how thelocal planning administrations and the planners manage thiscomplexity. These problems are interpreted and formulated asdifferent types of dilemmas related to wider planning issues.Also problematised is how the planning organisation andplanners are managing these dilemmas. The findings from the study are relevant for those involvedin spatial planning education, making students conscious aboutthe complex contexts in planning practice. The study is alsorelevant for professional planners in order to fosterself-reflection and discussion about the problems they areinvolved in their daily work and how these can be managed inthe complex arena of spatial planning today.

<p>A main challenge facing spatial planning today issustainable development, in official documents defined asecological, social and economic sustainability. In a powerperspective these three dimensions can be characterised ascompeting discourses. Another challenge facing local authorityplanners is how to work in open processes with a growing numberof actors and stakeholders, in addition often as parties inchanging organisations. Altogether this provides a very complexcontext for local authority spatial planning and itsprofessional planners.</p><p>This report is based on an investigation of how politicaland societal activities on European, national and local levelsare influencing the local authority spatial planning processes.The focus is on how planning is being administrated, and howplanning officers can manage planning processes in complexcontexts. The main research questions are how political visionsand objectives regarding sustainable development are managed inlocal authority spatial planning? And how can the growingnumber of actors and stakeholders with a wide range ofknowledge, interests and values be managed in such complexplanning contexts?</p><p>Two case studies in Sweden have provided the empiricalmaterial. The first is a study of planners in local authoritiesof various sizes and spread geographic locations. The second isa detailed study of the planning organisation in a medium-sizedlocal authority with two major on-going planning processes.Qualitative research methods have been used in theinvestigation, direct interviews with the main actors, documentstudies and observations.</p><p>The result of this study is an understanding of some theelements and connections in the complex situation facing thelocal authority planning administrations. These are describedin terms of competing policy discourses, each of which isrelated to and managed in different local planning directions.Why some discourses are stronger than others is discussed. Alsoidentified in the study are the problems involved in how thelocal planning administrations and the planners manage thiscomplexity. These problems are interpreted and formulated asdifferent types of dilemmas related to wider planning issues.Also problematised is how the planning organisation andplanners are managing these dilemmas.</p><p>The findings from the study are relevant for those involvedin spatial planning education, making students conscious aboutthe complex contexts in planning practice. The study is alsorelevant for professional planners in order to fosterself-reflection and discussion about the problems they areinvolved in their daily work and how these can be managed inthe complex arena of spatial planning today.</p>

The South African financial planning industry experienced a rapid growth from its generic beginnings in the 1970’s to the vast levels of specialisation taking place in the 21st century. Financial planning, akin to the medical profession, is arguably one of the most critical areas of influence in the personal lifestyle planning of individuals given the increasing longevity brought about by the medical profession. Early transgressions and irregularities, as in the case of most industries, brought about the introduction of the Financial Advisory and Iintermediary Services (FAIS) Act in 2004 to regulate, transform and restructure the industry. Since the introduction of the Act, compliance with the legislation and obtaining the appropriate qualifications have become a major focus for financial planners. This groundbreaking academic research involves an assessment of the educational needs of graduates in the financial planning industry including an evaluation of the relative importance of the subject fields, management competencies and skills required in the field of financial planning with specific reference to the financial planning programmes offered by the HEIs in South Africa. The purpose of this study can be phrased in a threefold manner: Firstly, to assess at programme level the theoretical and practical relevancy of the HEIs financial planning programme content relative to the present and immediate future normative requirements of the financial planning profession; Secondly, to assess whether the academic programmes address the critical skills shortage in financial planning by determining the appropriate qualification delivery in terms of academic and practical learning to develop the appropriate management competencies; and Thirdly, based on the findings of this research, to address any gaps pertaining to the financial planning programme content and management competency and skills levels, thereby contributing to the body of knowledge pertaining to financial planning education in order to be relevant and responsive in servicing the financial services sector. To give effect to the problem statement and to validate the research propositions, a mixed methods design within the pragmatic research paradigm was used. A relatively new and innovative mixed methods approach, namely Real-time Delphi (RTD) procedures of sourcing professional expert opinion enabled the collection of qualitative and quantitative data for data triangulation. The RTD methodology which seeks the pooled intelligence from a group of selected experts is also capable of determining future requirements rather than only the current practice. This is the first academic study of its kind in South Africa utilising the RTD methodology.