| Informal housing settlements are a growing phenomenon in many urban centres in South Eastern Europe. Since the transition to market economy, rapid urbanization has occurred in the capital cities of South Eastern Europe and has led to the proliferation of peri-urban areas and informal housing. This MDP examines and analyzes the phenomenon of informal settlement formation in Tirana and Belgrade and provides recommendations to improve them. Inadequate institutional, legal and financial frameworks hinder housing policy from being effective in Albania and Serbia, also contributing to growing levels of informal settlements. Further analysis shows that many informal settlements in Tirana have insufficient infrastructure and lower housing quality than formal housing in Tirana. The quality of most of Belgrade's informal housing settlements is satisfactory, with the exception of many Roma settlements. Relevant housing policy in the two countries is assessed along with an overview of housing market outcomes. The nature of informal settlements in Tirana and Belgrade are also discussed, identifying their differences and similarities along with the challenges and barriers to improving informal housing policy in the applicable countries. The final chapter concludes the MDP by drawing project conclusions and relevant policy and program recommendations.;Keywords. Informal housing settlements, transition economy, slums, unsanitary settlements, Roma population, Tirana, Belgrade, Albania, Serbia, South Eastern Europe. |
