In this study the role of special districts in providing local public services is assessed. Using economic theory, it is determined, theoretically, that special districts do provide an institution by which consumption, production, and distributional efficiency in the provision of local public goods and services can be attained. This view is contrasted to the view of special districts held by the "reform tradition," a set of ideas about how local government can be most efficiently organized. Assuming that a centralized local governmental administration is the most efficient, the reformists deduce that the proliferation of special districts will result in more costly provision of local public services as well as "unresponsive local government." These propositions have led at least five states to create state regulatory agencies that have effectively controlled the growth of special districts. In light of these two contrasting views on the role of special districts in the provision of local public services, the "economic interpretation" and the refer tradition, the question of the effects of special districts on the cost of providing local public services becomes an empirical one. The effects of restricting the growth of special districts in three states, California, Oregon, and Washington, on the cost of providing municipal services are examined. It is determined that restricting the growth of special districts increases the costs of providing such services, contrary to the reformist predictions. Further evidence is presented that shows that consumer-taxpayers are more satisfied with the public services provided by smaller local governmental jurisdictions such as special districts than with many larger, general purpose units of government. The evidence brought forth in this study also supports the conjecture that special district growth restrictions are a means of enhancing the monopoly power of existing local governmental jurisdictions. For policy purposes, it is concluded that a legal framework that permits the creation and dissolution of special districts by the groups of individuals served by them is most conducive to attaining consumption, production, and distributional efficiency in the provision of local public services. / Ph. D.

A presente dissertação tem por objetivo a análise do direito à moradia, bem como suas relações com outros elementos que ajudam a compor o complexo de relações que denominamos cidades. Destaca-se o tema em partes definidas. De início é desenvolvida a construção do direito à moradia como direito fundamental social, o que possibilita a exigência de atuação do Estado para a efetivação do direito. As violações perpetradas ao direito à moradia ao longo da história da sociedade brasileira são igualmente tratadas, permitindo a percepção de que o déficit habitacional é o resultado de longos períodos de políticas públicas equivocadas e desvirtuadas. Em continuação ao estudo do direito à moradia, são tratadas as interferências do desrespeito ao direito à moradia nos demais aspectos da cidade e dos indivíduos, como a segregação social e territorial e o recuo da cidadania. Por fim, algumas propostas de solução ao problema habitacional atualmente em andamento são analisadas, em especial os programas de regularização fundiária e o programa Minha Casa Minha Vida. A análise dos mencionados programas objetiva demonstrar que nenhum deles possui efetivas chances de êxito se não foram acompanhados de programas de estrutura urbana que controlem a especulação imobiliária. Nesse sentido, existe a real possibilidade de a sociedade exigir a efetiva atuação e comprometimento do Estado, com a adoção das medidas necessárias à efetividade dos programas habitacionais e, com eles, do direito à moradia. / This dissertation aims at analyzing the right to housing, as well as its relations with other elements that help make up the complex of relations that we call cities. Of note was the issue in parts defined. To start, it developed the construction of housing rights as fundamental social rights, which allows the requirement of state action for the realization of the right. The abuses of the right to housing throughout the history of Brazilian society are also addressed, allowing the perception that the housing deficit is the result of long periods of misguided public policies and undermined. Continuing to study the right to housing, are treated the interference of disrespect for housing rights in other aspects of the city and individuals, as social segregation, territorial and retreat of citizenship. Finally, some proposed solutions to the housing problem currently under study are analyzed, in particular the programs and the program of land regularization My Life My House. The analysis of such programs aimed to demonstrate that none of them have actual chances of success if not been accompanied by programs of urban structure, preventing the real estate speculation. In this sense, there is a real possibility of society require the effective participation and commitment of the State, with the adoption of measures necessary to investigate the effectiveness of housing programs, and with them the right to housing.

A presente dissertação tem por objetivo a análise do direito à moradia, bem como suas relações com outros elementos que ajudam a compor o complexo de relações que denominamos cidades. Destaca-se o tema em partes definidas. De início é desenvolvida a construção do direito à moradia como direito fundamental social, o que possibilita a exigência de atuação do Estado para a efetivação do direito. As violações perpetradas ao direito à moradia ao longo da história da sociedade brasileira são igualmente tratadas, permitindo a percepção de que o déficit habitacional é o resultado de longos períodos de políticas públicas equivocadas e desvirtuadas. Em continuação ao estudo do direito à moradia, são tratadas as interferências do desrespeito ao direito à moradia nos demais aspectos da cidade e dos indivíduos, como a segregação social e territorial e o recuo da cidadania. Por fim, algumas propostas de solução ao problema habitacional atualmente em andamento são analisadas, em especial os programas de regularização fundiária e o programa Minha Casa Minha Vida. A análise dos mencionados programas objetiva demonstrar que nenhum deles possui efetivas chances de êxito se não foram acompanhados de programas de estrutura urbana que controlem a especulação imobiliária. Nesse sentido, existe a real possibilidade de a sociedade exigir a efetiva atuação e comprometimento do Estado, com a adoção das medidas necessárias à efetividade dos programas habitacionais e, com eles, do direito à moradia. / This dissertation aims at analyzing the right to housing, as well as its relations with other elements that help make up the complex of relations that we call cities. Of note was the issue in parts defined. To start, it developed the construction of housing rights as fundamental social rights, which allows the requirement of state action for the realization of the right. The abuses of the right to housing throughout the history of Brazilian society are also addressed, allowing the perception that the housing deficit is the result of long periods of misguided public policies and undermined. Continuing to study the right to housing, are treated the interference of disrespect for housing rights in other aspects of the city and individuals, as social segregation, territorial and retreat of citizenship. Finally, some proposed solutions to the housing problem currently under study are analyzed, in particular the programs and the program of land regularization My Life My House. The analysis of such programs aimed to demonstrate that none of them have actual chances of success if not been accompanied by programs of urban structure, preventing the real estate speculation. In this sense, there is a real possibility of society require the effective participation and commitment of the State, with the adoption of measures necessary to investigate the effectiveness of housing programs, and with them the right to housing.

Thesis (M.Arch.) - Carleton University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-83). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

In an effort to reduce the cost and size of government public service delivery has become more decentralized, flexible and responsive. Public entrepreneurship entailed, among other things, the establishment of special-purpose governments to finance public services and carry out development projects. Community Development Districts (CDDs) are a type of special-purpose governments whose purpose is to manage and finance infrastructure improvements in the State of Florida. They have important implications for the way both growth management and service delivery occur in the United States. This study examined the role of CDDs for growth management policy and service delivery by analyzing the CDD profile and activity, the contribution of CDDs to the growth management and infrastructure development as well as the way CDD perceived pluses and minuses impact service delivery. The study used a mixed methods research approach, drawing on secondary data pertaining to CDD features and activity, semi-structured interviews with CDD representatives and public officials as well as on a survey of public officials within the counties and cities that have established CDDs. Findings indicated that the CDD institutional model is both a policy and a service delivery tool for infrastructure provision that can be adopted by states across the United States. Results showed that CDDs inhibit rather than foster growth management through their location choices, type and pattern of development. CDDs contributed to the infrastructure development in Florida by providing basic infrastructure services for the development they supported and by building and dedicating facilities to general-purpose governments. Districts were found to be both funding mechanisms and management tools for infrastructure services. The study also pointed to the fact that specialized governance is more responsive and more flexible but less effective than general-purpose governance when delivering services. CDDs were perceived as being favorable for developers and residents and not as favorable for general-purpose governments. Overall results indicated that the CDD is a flexible institutional mechanism for infrastructure delivery which has both advantages and disadvantages. Decision-makers should balance districts’ institutional flexibility with their unintended consequences for growth management when considering urban public policies.