A growing movement to implement a nationwide property tax in China is meeting resistance from the rich and powerful.

"This year it seemed China was finally going to make headway on an idea familiar to U.S. homeowners: a property tax," according to Dominique Fong. Now it seems that possibility is no longer a political reality—for now at least.
"Lu Kehua, China’s vice housing minister, last month said the government needed to 'speed up' a property-tax law," to "tame" speculation in the real estate market and to provide revenue for local governments. Despite the support from a high-ranking official, "the annual National People’s Congress came and went this month with no discussion of the topic," according to Fong.
The political opposition to the idea of a property tax comes from wealthy and politically powerful Chinese residents—a difficult group to win over in any country. The political opposition to the property tax idea claims it does not want to slow the economy by imposing new changes to the country's tax structure.
There have been a few property tax experiments in the country since 2011. As Fong reports, property taxes in Chongqing and Shanghai, both unique in their approach, were considered failures.
[The Wall Street Journal article might be behind a paywall for some readers.]
FULL STORY: China Kicks Property Tax to the Curb—For Now

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion
The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”
Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.

Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden
Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.

German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence
Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie