Research

A Taxing Dilemma: Land Take, Fiscal Revenues and the Redistribution Puzzle

This project seeks to systematically catalog and map conflicts related to construction and land-use changes in France. Using administrative court decisions, it aims to construct a comprehensive national database detailing the location of disputed constructions, the nature of the legal claims, court rulings, and the categories of buildings involved. The database, drawn from hundreds of thousands of judicial documents, enables the testing of hypotheses from urban economics, particularly the relationship between resistance to densification and economic inequalities. Additionally, it examines how ecological arguments are mobilized in land-use conflicts, shedding light on the evolving role of environmental considerations in territorial disputes. This comprehensive approach contributes to a deeper understanding of the challenges associated with sustainable urban development and land conservation goals.

Contested Ground: Exploring Land Use Conflicts in France

With François Lafont

This project seeks to systematically catalog and map conflicts related to construction and land-use changes in France. Using administrative court decisions, we build a comprehensive national database detailing the location of disputed constructions, the nature of the legal claims, court rulings, and the categories of buildings involved. The database, drawn from hundreds of thousands of judicial documents, enables the testing of hypotheses from urban economics, particularly the relationship between resistance to densification and economic inequalities. Additionally, it examines how ecological arguments are mobilized in land-use conflicts, shedding light on the evolving role of environmental considerations in territorial disputes. This comprehensive approach contributes to a deeper understanding of the challenges associated with sustainable urban development and land conservation goals.