Transition of the Housing Sector in the East Central European Countries

Abstract

The fall of socialism in 1989–1990 led to the end of the East European housing model, which was based on the limitation of property rights, extensive central planning and politically determined allocation of subsidies. This paper aims to present a clear picture of the current housing situation through a reliable information system. The major observation is that in the countries studied, the housing situation is relatively good; it is not housing shortage, but die inefficiency of the institutional system, affordability and deferred maintenance that are the main problems. Based on the idea of “enabling policies” ‐ policies that facilitate the activities of the key stakeholders in the sector while providing an essential element of the social safety net ‐ the paper establishes the goals and objectives that should guide the formulation of policy and institutional reforms within the sector, and defines priorities for actions to be taken by national and local governments and by international agencies in support of governments.

Economic growth and urban metamorphosis: A quarter century of transformations within the metropolitan area of Bucharest

“…Differences in age cohorts between rural and urban populations deepened (Jemna, Pintilescu, & Turturean, 2010). With no barriers to changes in residence, a massive rural-urban migration ensued after the fall of the communist regime (Hegedüs et al, 1996). As a result, the predominant urban age cohort within the next decade is the one between 45 and 55.…”

“…Despite the existence of a body of knowledge amassed from published works on post-socialist societies (Enyedi, 1996;Hamilton, Andrews, & Pichler-Milanović, 2005;Stanilov, 2007;Tsenkova & Nedovic-Budic, 2006), as well as exploratory scientific publications on Eastern Europe the over the past 25 years (Bertaud, 2006;Hegedüs, Tosics, & Mayo, 1996;Suditu, Dumitrache, Vîrdol, & Vâlceanu, 2014), Hegedüs (2008) noted that no new theory has been developed on post-socialist cities. To better understand the paths that developed metropolises followed in the stage of fast economic growth, Hayashi (1996) states that historical comparisons could be used to create empirical forecast scenarios for developing metropolises to better accommodate future sustainable development paths and assure a pleasant living environment.…”

The changing role of housing assets in post-socialist countries

“…In short, a number of countries in the region turned into 'super home ownership' (Stephens 2004). In Hungary, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania, for instance, the rate of home ownership reached close to 90% in 1994 (Hegedus, Mayo and Tosics 1996), three years after the transition had started.…”

Stambena prava u Hrvatskoj i problemi njihova ostvarenja

“…STAMBENA PRAVA U SREDNJOEUROPSKIM TRANZICIJSKIM ZEMLJAMA U prvoj polovini devedesetih, opterećenih gospodarskom krizom, u tranzicijskim su zemljama provođene reforme, zaokupljene prodajom društvenih stanova, privatizacijom i decentralizacijom stambene opskrbe (Hegedüs, Mayo, Tosics, 1996.). Značajno opada i broj novosagrađenih stanova (Lux, ed., 2003.).…”