The District of Svitavy after the Public Administration Reform, by Josef Markvart & Marie Polešáková
An interview with the Mayor of Svitavy, Mr Václav Koukal.
On the Issue of Urban Housing Policy, by Jaroslav Dupal
The writer presents his opinions on the concepts of urban housing policies, offering experience of developed European countries and urging the principles of decentralization and subsidization. The most frequent terms and categories are as follows: European concept of self−administration, financial management of Municipalities, last decade's concept of self−administration in the housing policy, proprietary changes in the urban housing stock, availability of subsidies, stabilization of the urban housing policy, and systematic concept.
Current and Future Notion of the Housing Allowance in the Czech Republic, by Petr Sunega
The article examines the system of allowances for housing as an important tool of social and housing policies, used as such in most EU countries. Some drawbacks of the current system are mentioned, especially the fact that the real housing costs, as paid by households, are disregarded in the calculation, thus endangering the social justice of such allowance. In this respect, a draft of a new concept of rent contributions is outlined. Based on the results of simulation models, contrived by experts of the Czech Academy of Sciences, this draft proved to be the most adequate and efficient tool of housing contributions, in particular regard to the deregulation of rents.
Some Paradoxes of the Spatial Development in the Czech Republic after 1990, by Milan Körner
This article deals with the differentiated evolution of selected trends, or socio−economic characteristics, of the Czech spatial development after 1990. Some paradoxes are observed in various regions, taking into consideration their potential impact on future population developments in the Czech Republic.