Natascha Volk

Dissertation Topic
Sustainable Land-Use by Companies

Brief Description
The discussed limitation for new land-use of 30 ha per day until 2020 within the framework of the National Sustainability Strategy of the German Federal Government would imply that in this period of time, the anticipated demand for that timeframe would not be met with the appropriate amount of supply. Because of this imbalance, the economic consequences on the property market would be a supply-induced price increase. Therefore it has to be questioned, how demand might react to such a limitation and what should happen so the market can reach its former balance. A direct effect on national economic growth because of the changes in commercial property use is to be expected.
The aim of this dissertation is therefore to find out how companies use their commercial land properties, how they plan their future land-use and which steering impulses are needed to induce the companies to a sustainable land-use without loss of economic growth. To that end, not only must a theoretical situation of decisions for the actors be developed, but also the characteristics of land-use decisions must be shown empirically. For that reason, a survey of small and medium-sized companies in four German regions will be organized and steering impulses for sustainable land-use will be formulated on the basis of the results for the groups of actors of commercial land-use. Attention will be put on the significance to the portion of costs for the land property within the total costs of a typical commercial construction project for the companies and also on the economic instrument of tradable planning permits for the regulation of land-use supply through the local authorities.