development of projects in the public interest and of use to society. The Act gave a marked impetus to the implementation of current urban projects by providing immediate access to the land most suitable for urban development. Housing 63. Efforts to meet the housing demand by public investment were directed through a programme to build houses and provide the amenities for housing estates on the basis of the following activities: Housing complexes 64. These are projects for the construction of new urban developments and housing equipped with basic infrastructure services. 65. This type of housing, which was built by specialized State firms, is designed to meet the needs of urban workers and workers in production centres. Over the decade, 12,094 such units were built, i.e. 47 per cent of the units built by the State during the period. Forty two per cent of them were intended for agricultural and mine workers. Incremental urban developments 66. Under this programme families were provided free of charge with building sites with minimum urban services, in areas suitable for the development of housing, while areas necessary for the subsequent development of the required social infrastructure were held in reserve. 67, The estates were initially provided with drinking water from stand-pipes, streets and with material for the construction of individual latrines. The beneficiaries of this programme undertook to contribute to the subsequent development of the infrastructure networks as the country's economic circumstances allowed. 68, Although in general the dwellings constructed under these projects are makeshift and built from left-over materials, security of ownership of their plot has encouraged families gradually to improve them. During the period 33,985 such plots were developed, including 19,444 in Managua (57.2 per cent). Housing improvements and materials bank 69, Incremental urban developments were complemented by the Materials Bank Programme, whereby families were provided with building materials, skilled 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the development of housing projects and urban infrastructure, which is closely tied to economic development and the well-being of society. The focus on providing housing for urban workers and agricultural and mine workers suggests that the primary goal is to improve the living conditions of the population, which is a key aspect of economic development.

**Category**
Economic development, Employment