Changing patterns in residential preferences for urban or suburban living of city dwellers

Abstract

Many cities in the western world have recovered from the urban crisis after the industrialization period and have become attractive places to live and work. It seems obvious to conclude that the preference for urban living has increased. But is this really the case? The (increased) preference for urban living may also be driven by demographic, socioeconomic and socio-cultural changes in the population rather than by a structural change in residential preferences. In depth analysis of the stated residential preferences in Amsterdam in the period 2003-2017 indeed show that residential preferences are quite stable. The analysis does show a small decline in the preference for moving at all: slightly more households in Amsterdam prefer to stay put. This can mainly be explained by the growing owner-occupied sector. When households want to move, their preference for moving to the region is fairly stable. Only families with older children seem to have become more urban orientated. The education level is one of the key variables that explains the stated preference for moving to the region of Amsterdam: the higher educated more often prefer to stay. Their share in the population has increased and this does influence the residential preference at an aggregate level towards a more urban orientation.

Shared housing for students and young professionals: evolution of a market in need of regulation

“…Because it has become increasingly difficult for young adults to pursue a linear housing career in cities like Amsterdam (Hochstenbach & Boterman, 2015), flexible life arrangements have expanded in Dutch cities (Hochstenbach, Wind, & Arundel, 2020). Although young professionals are usually expected to value urban living (Fincher & Costello, 2005;Muhammad et al, 2007), young singles show no intention to settle long term in Amsterdam (Booi & Boterman, 2019). This is consistent with the introduction of short-term, flexible tenure forms in the shared housing market.…”

“…Having moved to cities to complete higher education, young singles tend to stay for the first years of their careers (Booi & Boterman, 2019). Amsterdam concentrates this fast-growing group (ibid), with one-person households representing half of the population, and one-third of all households being aged 20 to 34 (Onderzoek Informatie en Statistiek [OIS], 2017).…”

Residential mobility of couples around family formation in the Netherlands: Stated and revealed preferences

“…As a part of the urban resurgence (Turok & Mykhnenko, 2007, 2008) or reurbanisation trend (Kabisch & Haase, 2011), the number of families with children is on the rise again in several European cities (Booi & Boterman, 2020; Lilius, 2014). Although several studies have suggested that cities have become more popular environments in which to raise children, empirical data on actual residential mobility in the Netherlands indicate that the birth of a first child is still a turning point in the life course (Stone et al, 2014) that triggers couples to leave the city.…”

“…However, the traditional link between family formation and suburbanization seems to be fading. During the first decades of the 21st century, the number of families with children has once again been on the rise in many European cities (Booi & Boterman, 2020;Buzar et al, 2007;Lilius, 2014). It is suggested that this trend is being fuelled by an increasing preference among families to live in inner cities (Boterman, 2012;Boterman et al, 2010;Boterman & Karsten, 2015;Brun & Fagnani, 1994;Karsten, 2007Karsten, , 2014Lilius, 2014).…”

“…Many European inner cities are seeing an increasing number of families with children (Boterman, Karsten, & Musterd, 2010; Lilius, 2014), a stage in the life course that is traditionally associated with suburban residence (Mulder, 2013; Rossi, 1955). In Amsterdam, for instance, the number of two‐parent families grew by 23% between 2003 and 2017 (Booi & Boterman, 2020). The growing presence of families in inner cities is taking place within a broader context of economically and demographically thriving metropolitan areas, predominantly those that are based on diverse cognitive‐cultural economies (Storper & Scott, 2009; Taylor & Derudder, 2016).…”