Subcontracting in commercial and residential construction: an empirical investigation

Some twenty years ago Robert Eccles argued for the theoretical existence of the quasifirm, a semi-integrated form of production in the construction industry, following a field study of home building firms in the USA. The study was aimed at substantiating some aspects of Williamson's transaction cost theory. The present work has similar intents, and illustrates the results of two recent field studies of homebuilders and commercial contractors, and the specific features of their subcontracting practice. Given the difficulty of an effective measurement of transaction costs in construction, Williamson's concept of atmosphere is suggested to explain the different approaches observed in subcontracting.     

Perceptions of HIV/AIDS policies and treatment programmes by Western Cape construction firms

The HIV/AIDS pandemic poses a substantial long‐term threat to economic development in South Africa. A questionnaire survey explored the perceptions of a sample of construction firms in the Western Cape regarding HIV/AIDS policy and treatment programmes. The findings show that there is no universal view about the long‐term threat of HIV/AIDS. Most organizations have awareness policies in place but prevention and treatment policies are less common. Treatment programmes are the least implemented of all intervention services due to insufficient resource capacity, the potential stigmatization of infected persons, and low take‐up rates. Despite an acknowledgement of the benefits flowing from mounting treatment programmes, doubt exists as to their financial viability.     

Critical parameters influencing value for money variations in PFI projects in the healthcare and transport sectors

Achieving good value for money (VFM) is the principal objective of any private finance initiative (PFI) project while sustaining it throughout the contract life is the greatest challenge. Empirical evidence is required to understand uncertainties surrounding VFM of PFI before finding effective ways to improve it. Variations in costs, time and client requirements are explored, between successive review stages of PFI projects from the strategic business case stage through to the operational phase. The magnitudes of these variations are established and critical parameters that influence them are identified. The research methods include a documentary analysis of the full business cases of five PFI projects and a questionnaire survey of 44 PFI projects from the healthcare and transport sectors in the UK. The findings reveal that the current VFM assessment of PFI projects is often carried out under conditions of considerable uncertainty with frequent changes in costs, timescales and client requirements. The list of critical parameters can help practitioners to identify priority areas and achieve a long-lasting VFM. The study broadens the understanding of whole life aspects of VFM of PFI projects and the interactivity of project parameters at different stages.     

Prevailing wage legislation and public school construction efficiency: a stochastic frontier approach1

Stochastic frontier regression is used to examine the effect of introducing prevailing wage legislation on public school construction efficiency in British Columbia. Prior to the legislation, public school projects were from 16% to 19% smaller, in terms of square feet, than comparable private structures. However, likelihood ratio tests consistently indicate that the coefficients measuring the effect of the policy on the size differential between covered and uncovered projects are not statistically different from zero. These results suggest that construction wage requirements did not alter input utilisation in a way that significantly affected construction output. Average inefficiency for school construction in British Columbia over the period of the study is 12.1%.     

The Future of Community Reinvestment: Challenges and Opportunities in a Changing Environment

John Baeder's image, painted from a 1973 photo, shows an inner-city neighborhood in Pennsylvania. This was the kind of neighborhood that was severely affected by discriminatory banking practices before the advent of the community reinvestment movement discussed by Peter Dreier in this Longer View.

A photorealist known for his paintings of American diners, Baeder attended Auburn University in the 1950s and worked for New York ad agencies from 1960 to 1972. Since 1980 he has lived in Nashville, Tennessee. More of his work can be seen on his Web site at http://www.johnbaeder.com, and he is represented by O. K. Harris Works of Art in New York City.

Since Congress passed the Community Reinvestment Act in 1977 to combat mortgage discrimination (redlining) by banks, the law has resulted in more than $1 trillion in private investment being channeled into urban neighborhoods. This article examines the history, current status, and future prospects of the community reinvestment movement. It explores the ingredients for its success as well as its limitations. It also explores how broad economic, political, and demographic trends—as well as changes in the finance services sector—will require the movement to adjust its strategies and coalition efforts if it is to continue to be effective.     

Review

From the Review Editors

Review Roundtable

Cities and the Creative Class Richard Florida. Routledge, New York, 2005. 208 pp. $85, $19.95 (paperback)

The Planning for Results Guidebook Lee Nellis Karen Van Gilder Sonoran Institute, Tucson, AZ, 2003. 104 pages. $14.50 (paperback).

Providence, the Renaissance City Francis Leazes, Jr. Mark T. Motte. Northeastern University Press, Boston, 2004. 352 pages. $29.95.

Sustainability on Campus: Stories and Strategies for Change Peggy F. Barlett Geoffrey W. Chase editors. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 2004. 344 pages. $23.95 (paperback).

Toward the Livable City Emilie Buchwald editor. Milkweed Editions, Minneapolis, MN, 2003. 301 pages. $18.95 (paperback).

Credit to the Community: Community Reinvestment and Fair Lending Policy in the United States Dan Immergluck. M. E. Sharpe Armonk, NY, 2004. 328 pages. $79.95.

Raquel Pinderhughes. Rowman Littlefield Lanham, MD, 2004. 288 pages. $75.

The Property Tax, Land Use and Land Use Regulation Dick Netzer Editor. Edward Elgar, Northampton, MA, 2003. 324 pages. $130.

Integrated Land Use and Environmental Models: A Survey of Current Applications and Research Subhrajit Guhathakurta editor. Springer Velag, Berlin, 2003. 271 pages. $119.

Downtown America: A History of the Place and the People Who Made It Alison Isenberg University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2004. 441 pages. $32.50.

Cities on the Plains: The Evolution of Urban Kansas James R. Shortridge. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, 2004. 520 pages. $45.

The Human Sustainable City: Challenges and Perspectives from the Habitat Agenda Luigi Girard Bruno Forte Maria Caretta Pasquale De Toro Fabiana Forte editors. Ashgate, Aldershot, U.K., 2004. 574 pages. $104.95.     

从集体利益中产生个人利益——共鸣设计方法及其在独立住宅转化为集合住宅中的运用

提出可以增加集合住宅受欢迎度的共鸣设计方法策略,这些策略不仅考虑到建筑本身的一些可能性,同时考虑到在空间和社会环境方面的要求,涵盖了物理的、心理的以及社会的因素;指出这类策略的应用带来了高度的用户接受度并使得适应性建筑在一个长时期内可以保持其价值.阐释在设计方法的帮助下,建筑物被记录和相互比较.     

Inclusionary zoning and affordable housing in Sydney

Abstract

Focus in this paper is placed on the issue of inclusionary zoning and developer contributions to provide affordable housing in the City West and Green Square urban redevelopment projects. Both are ambitious inner city urban renewal projects which form key parts of the New South Wales government's urban consolidation policy and also seek to maintain a social mix through the provision of social (i.e. affordable) housing.