There are other countries such as the People's Republic of China that practice eminent domain whenever it is convenient to make space for new communities and government structures.
Eminent Domain is a very real and oft-used legal power that is given, especially by individual states in the US to seize property for whatever "public use" those governments deem worthy, including (but not limited to) road widening, infrastructure (sewer, electric, telecom fibre) improvements, and even private enterprise that trumps individual rights "for the greater good".
Please don't think that China holds exclusive dominion over such a concept.
The USA actually has a long history of extensive eminent domain use, although it has cooled more recently. As with most anglosphere countries lately its use has become more highly protested, challenged and politicized, making it a little more haphazard (and much more if those with economic ability to mount a serious legal challenge are involved).
In China its been used more regularly however compensation has been often ridiculously pitiful (although sometimes also quite reasonable and this has as I understand improved more recently). Sometimes we pay poor compensation in the west too though maybe not as bad.
Its also tied to China's communist past where land is for the public good (and typically only leased by individuals) as opposed to the west's 'right to land ownership' (i use inverted commas because its never really been an absolute right, even if people use the phrase).
Best practice in my view (as someone in the industry) is probably somewhere in between. I don't believe in a world of limited resources (as we are in) in indefinite rights of land ownership. I do believe however in fair compensation, which probably should be a considerable premium above an independently assessed market value (if the site was otherwise sold today, accounting for any other anticipated changes to the neighbourhood).
In Singapore, the state has vast eminent domain powers and is exempt from all zoning laws, which is covered in the video. I'm not sure that would ever fly in the US.
With eminent domain they still have to compensate the owner for the land. In my own country they call it "compulsory purchase" instead, which seems to describe it a bit better.
I've actually always been uncertain of why eminent domain works/exists seemingly sometimes in the US for private companies wanting to build developments. Or at least, that's how people seem to think of it. I've heard several people "forced to sell their home through eminent domain" because someone wanted to build a shopping center.
Is that true, or is that a misunderstanding of how it works?
Yep, that's what eminent domain basically is about. Land ownership comes with different strings attached compared to other kinds of wealth. No need to evoke communist imagery -- this is common practice in western countries, some pay the market price and some do not.
>Eminent domain (United States, Philippines), land acquisition (India, Malaysia,[1][2] Singapore), compulsory purchase (Ireland, United Kingdom), resumption (Hong Kong, Uganda), resumption/compulsory acquisition (Australia, Barbados, New Zealand, Ireland), or expropriation (Canada, South Africa) is the power of a state, provincial, or national government to take private property for public use.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminent_domain#Asia
There are other countries such as the People's Republic of China that practice eminent domain whenever it is convenient to make space for new communities and government structures.
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