as pieces of private property the buildings purchased by the Federation for urban and housing development and those which by their nature or because they already form part of its property can be allocated for such a purpose. 243. As regards the provision of finance, the public credit institutions offer financial resources for the building, improvement and maintenance of housing and for the production of housing materials and components. Encouragement is also given to, and finance provided for, projects for housing estates, so that the workers can purchase their dwellings with credits granted them by these institutions, thus meeting the demand for housing among people with scanty resources. 244. The credit institutions in the public sector, which operate under their own legal and property conditions, are: the Institute of the National Housing Fund (IFONAVIT), the State Employees' Housing Fund (FOVISSSTE), the Armed Forces Housing Fund (FOVIMI), the Banking Operations and Discount Fund (FOVI), the Guarantee Fund (FOGA), the Housing Finance Programme (PFV) and the Trustee Fund for People's Housing (FONHAPO). 245. It is obligatory for all employers to contribute to IFONAVIT 5% of the normal wages of their workers, the only exceptions being employers who provide housing for their workers on their own account. The contributions are paid every two months to the Federal Finance Offices, whence they are transferred to the Institute so that if he so desires the worker can dispose of them or be granted a housing loan. 246. During recent years housing policy has been structurally linked to urban development, whose priority at the moment is the promotion of medium­ sized cities so that the country's future development is directed along lines that will favour more balanced development of the regions. 45% of the housing units completed in 1985 were in strategic medium-sized cities, to strengthen 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the housing and urban development policies of a country, including the provision of finance, credit institutions, and employer contributions. It also mentions the promotion of medium-sized cities as a priority for urban development. These topics suggest that the text is related to economic development, employment, and urban planning.

**Category**
Economic development, Employment