replacing earlier contract systems, tax powers were in 1994 redefined and rebalanced. The centre's share of taxes jumped from 22 to 56 percent, and still greatly exceeds its expenditure obligations. Motivating localities to collect from their growing market economies, this also fuelled land finance. In the cartoon, the servitors of regional finance worry as they deliver their haul to the central tax coffers: 'Not enough! Hurry back and sell some more land' link