The Economic Problems Of Housing : Proceedings of a Conference held by the International Economic Association

Most countries face problems in attempting to evaluate their own progress as well as that which appears to be taking place elsewhere. Much of the Conference discussion was aimed at learning and attempting to evaluate changes which were reported from other areas. The difficulty of creating sufficient individual units is compounded by growing urbanization in almost every country. In many cases of developing nations, this means a major shift in the type of unit required. In place of the native or indigenous hut, they must build the far more complex units required by town or city living. In other areas, the shift is from one type of urban unit to larger more dense structures. In all countries there is a need for major investments in the urban infrastructure. The conferees found that just as universal as are the problems caused by housing are the needs for related decisions. These decisions fall into similar patterns because they follow directly from the underlying problems. In the majority of countries, the most important determination is that of the amount of resources to be made available for house-building. This decision determines the number of new and used units in the stock as well as their level of maintenance. Closely related are judgments as to what quality and type of housing may be inhabited. Because of high cost, individual families may attempt to inhabit units which the particular social value system considers substandard. Decisions must be made as to whether, and if so how, to enforce particular minimum standards at any given time. If the normal financial charges based upon the capital contained in a house exceed a socially desirable share of a family's income, a decision must be reached as to what level of payments is proper. If market costs are larger than a family can afford, methods must be devised to lower the amount the family is required to pay. The difference between the private and social costs must be shifted either to other groups or to the nation. Provisions must also be made as to how to allocate and re-allocate the stock of housing. In the course of the Conference, many interesting questions were raised as to the efficiency of the allocation systems used in each of the participating countries. It was brought out that planning decisions were required both with respect to the physical use and the development of land. Again the degree and the manner in which such determinations are made varies greatly. Various speakers discussed the techniques utilized in particular xiv XXIv 1 ' Political economy : the art of managing the resources of a people and of its government.' Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. Front Matter....Pages i-xxvi The Political Economy Of Housing....Pages 1-11 Slums and Poverty....Pages 12-26 Housing and the State: The Responsibilities of Government....Pages 27-36 A Disaggregated Housing Market Model....Pages 37-52 Rent Control as an Instrument of Housing Policy....Pages 53-72 Some Aspects of A Mixed Housing Market....Pages 73-84 On The Economic Effects of Rent Control in Denmark....Pages 85-91 Determinants Of Fluctuations In House-Building In Denmark 1880–1940....Pages 92-104 Home Finance and Housing Quality in Ageing Neighbourhoods....Pages 105-122 Housing Taxation and Housing Policy....Pages 123-136 The Future of Federal Housing Policies in the United States....Pages 137-148 Housing Policy and Housing-System Models in Some Socialist Countries....Pages 149-160 The Place of Housing Expenditure in the Total Consumption of A Population....Pages 161-175 The Housing Situation and Problems in Czechoslovakia....Pages 176-188 Housing Problems In Developing Countries....Pages 189-199 Housing in Africa: Some Problems and Major Policy Issues....Pages 200-214 Housing in Israel....Pages 215-227 Changes in the Output of the Building Industry as A Factor in the Development of Home-Building....Pages 228-235 Some Economic Problems of Housing in the U.S.S.R.....Pages 236-245 Front Matter....Pages 247-247 Summary Record of the Debate....Pages 247-323 Back Matter....Pages 325-329