The Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Issues in Expropriation reviews the contemporary major issues involving expropriation (eminent domain/compulsory purchase) in an international context. Expropriation is a right reserved to all governments, and, thus, it has an impact on all societies. This book, the first of its kind, considers the essential issues from the point of view of both developing and developed countries, and their needs for major infrastructure projects. The content covers major issues, principles and policies and includes the experiences of and examples from different countries and regions, including Australia, Asia, China, Europe, India and the USA. Rather than providing an in-depth examination of individual countries’ legal systems, the book focuses on international issues, and also provides a reflection on how national experiences can be related to global needs. Key themes include: Nature and quantum of compensation • Land rights and the acquisition of traditional land rights • Issues surrounding ‘public interest’ •Alternatives to expropriation •The future: “good practice”, debate and reform. This handbook is an essential resource for students and researchers in the areas of land policy, land law, property law and rights, and international development.

Increased global demand for land posits the need for well-designed country-level land policies to protect long-held rights, facilitate land access and address any constraints that land policy may pose for broader growth. While the implementation of land reforms can be a lengthy process, the need to swiftly identify key land policy challenges and devise responses that allow the monitoring of progress, in a way that minimizes conflicts and supports broader development goals, is clear. The Land Governance Assessment Framework (LGAF) makes a substantive contribution to the land sector by providing a quick and innovative tool to monitor land governance at the country level. The LGAF offers a comprehensive diagnostic tool that covers five main areas for policy intervention: Legal and institutional framework; Land use planning, management and taxation; Management of public land; Public provision of land information; and Dispute resolution and conflict management. The LGAF assesses these areas through a set of detailed indicators that are rated on a scale of pre-coded statements (from lack of good governance to good practice). While land governance can be highly technical in nature and tends to be addressed in a partial and sporadic manner, the LGAF posits a tool for a comprehensive assessment, taking into account the broad range of issues that land governance encompasses, while enabling those unfamiliar with land to grasp its full complexity. The LGAF will make it possible for policymakers to make sense of the technical levels of the land sector, benchmark governance, identify areas that require further attention and monitor progress. It is intended to assist countries in prioritizing reforms in the land sector by providing a holistic diagnostic review that can inform policy dialogue in a clear and targeted manner. In addition to presenting the LGAF tool, this book includes detailed case studies on its implementation in five selected countries: Peru, the Kyrgyz Republic, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Tanzania.

Croatia is the newest euro area (EA) member. Following a very strong recovery in 2021–22, growth moderated to 3.1 percent in 2023, still among the highest in the EA. Inflation has decelerated considerably since early 2023 but remains above the EA average, while the labor market remains tight. Growth is expected to stay robust in 2024–25, led by strengthening household real incomes and investment supported by EU funds. Inflation is expected to gradually approach 2 percent in late 2025. Risks to the outlook are broadly balanced. Subdued productivity and labor shortages are the main obstacles to potential growth.

This 2002 Article IV Consultation highlights that Croatia experienced solid growth in the last two years, with growth rates of about 4 percent exceeding those of the euro area and of many other transition countries. The recovery, initially propelled by private consumption and exports, has more recently extended to investment, encouraged by easy access to credit and public infrastructure spending. After decelerating at the end of 2001 in the wake of the slowdown in Europe, growth resumed strongly in the first quarter of 2002 supported by domestic demand. The outlook for 2002 is moderately positive.

This review was prepared in response to Croatia's 2015 request to adhere to the Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises. It assesses the climate for domestic and foreign investment in Croatia, its ability to comply with the principles of openness, transparency and non-discrimination and its policy convergence with the OECD Declaration, including responsible business conduct practices, and discusses the challenges and opportunities faced by the government of Croatia in its reform efforts.