Comparing Homeowner Societies: Can we Construct an East-West Model?

Abstract

Distinguishable patterns of mass homeownership have emerged across industrialised societies in recent decades, and have become increasingly central in comparative analyses of housing systems. This paper examines the nature of differences and similarities within and between two particular groups of societies where owner occupation dominates housing demand and policy systems, one constituted of English-speaking, Anglo-Saxon societies, and another of East Asian societies. The paper considers the potential of forming loose models based on core divergences in terms of systems, regimes and socio-ideological relationships. The aim is to further illustrate interactions between housing systems and welfare regimes in international contexts. Comparisons of housing and welfare elements are broadly related between societies, rather than quantitatively isolated, as systems are substantially variegated across the East Asian region. However, a loose system-model provides considerable insight into convergence within the group in regards to how housing systems have served a minimal social-welfare regime type.

Equity Inequity: Housing Wealth Inequality, Inter and Intra-generational Divergences, and the Rise of Private Landlordism

“…Especially in the AngloSaxon liberal countries of the UK, the US, Canada and Australia, homeownership has reached very high peak shares ranging from 64 to over 70% in recent decades (Ronald 2007). Considering a majority of households in such "homeowner societies" are financially engaged with the housing market, yet with very differentiated outcomes, it is clear that housing prospects are key to economic inequality.…”

“…Much existing literature on housing wealth distribution in what may be called advanced "homeowner societies" (Ronald 2007), was published under considerably different contexts at the turn of the century (see Forrest, Murie, and Williams 1990;Hamnett 1991Hamnett , 1999Hancock 1998;Henley 1998). While there has been recognition of inherent inequalities (see Henley 1998), past research has often focused on the historical role of growing homeownership in diminishing wealth disparities and the more widespread distribution of housing equity 1 compared to other assets (Hancock 1998;Hamnett 1999).…”

Home ownership and asset-based welfare

“…Among industrialized East Asian nations, housing has received special treatment in policy. Governments have been strongly interventionist in the housing sector but have in the long term promoted the consumption of housing as a household investment good (Doling 1999;Groves et al 2007;Ronald 2007). Home ownership has indeed been central to welfare conditions.…”

The changing role of housing assets in post-socialist countries

“…In Western developed countries the role of housing assets in the provision of welfare has a long-standing tradition, and there is growing interest in this issue among social scientists (see Doling and Elsinga 2006;Ronald 2007). Households' assets in general, and the owneroccupied housing in particular, are increasingly seen as a wealth reservoir from which equity can be released and used as an additional resource for the provision of welfare in old age.…”