Direct Democracy and Land Use Policy: Exchanging Public Goods for Development Rights

Elisabeth R. Gerber and Justin H. Phillips
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Elisabeth R. Gerber: Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan, 712 Oakland, Suite 250, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 3021, USA. ergerber@umich edu
Justin H. Phillips: Department of Political Science, University of California, San Diego, 301 Social Science Building, La Jolla, CA 92093 0521, USA. jhphilli@weber.ucsd.edu

Urban Studies, 2004, vol. 41, issue 2, 463-479

Abstract: To counter the power of pro-development interests, growth opponents in American communities have increasingly turned to the institutions of direct democracy. This study analyses the effects of one type of direct democracy-voter requirements for new development-on municipal growth. Analysing data from a sample of California communities, we consider the impact of voter requirements on the land use process and outcomes. We find that—in general-voter requirements fail to stop new development; property owners and developers can and do adapt to the constraints created by these direct democracy institutions. We also find, however, that voter requirements change the land use process in important ways. Specifically, they change the way developers interact with interest groups in the community and force developers to compensate current residents for enduring some of the negative aspects of growth.

Date: 2004
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:41:y:2004:i:2:p:463-479

DOI: 10.1080/0042098032000165343

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