Changes in St Petersburg's Industrial Belt after Land Privatization

Based on interviews with Russian enterprises, this study examines the land-use changes and impact in the St Petersburg industrial belt following the 1995 land-privatization law. Between November 1995 and January 1997 we conducted interviews with twenty-two enterprises that had applied to privatize their land. In July 1997 we reinterviewed fifteen of these enterprises and explored the land-use changes that had occurred over the prior year. Of the fifteen enterprises, fourteen had completed acquisition of their land. Subsequent land transactions, including land leasing, selling, or purchasing were conducted by eleven and a further one has plans to sell a portion of its land. None of the enterprises has seriously considered selling and relocating to the city fringe. These findings are relevant for all cities undergoing the transition from a planned to a market economy.