Drivers and socio-economic implications of vacant urban land: A case study of Debre Markos City, Ethiopia

Ethiopia is experiencing a significant problem with vacant land parcels in and around cities, which poses a significant challenge to effective urban land management, administration, and land utilization. Thus, this study aimed to explore the drivers of the presence of vacant land in urban areas and analyze its socioeconomic implications in Debre Markos City, Ethiopia. A mixed research approach was employed, and data were collected from primary and secondary sources. We selected the sample respondents using simple random sampling techniques and analyzed the data using descriptive and inferential statistics. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that distance to the main road, plot area, lack of land financing, low monthly income, irregular shapes of parcels, land speculation, market instability, inadequate infrastructure and services, informal land transactions, zoning restrictions, suburban expansion, inadequate land management, and high development costs were statistically significant factors influencing urban land vacancy. The availability of schools, distance to bus stations, availability of religious institutions, and land use type were found to be statistically insignificant ( p > .05), indicating that they do not have a strong direct impact on the presence of urban land vacancy. Vacant land deters the local economy by lowering property values and tax revenues from neighboring properties. It also imposes considerable social costs on communities, as it conveys an image of blight and tends to attract vandalism. The insights from this study can guide urban planners, policymakers, and stakeholders in fostering equitable and sustainable land utilization in Debre Markos and similar urban contexts in Ethiopia. • Land speculation and informal transactions, a result of weak land institutions, show poor control and lead to vacancies • Lack of land financing and limited financial capacity of landholders contribute to widespread land vacancy • Horizontal expansion, coupled with poor infrastructure development, instead of infill development, contributes to vacancy