Choices of housing policies: a comparative study

Housing plays an important role in achieving sustainability, and housing policy plays a role in facilitating desirable stages towards that goal. Since housing market does not always accomplish favorable outcomes, housing policies and state interventions influence the housing markets and can mitigate the negative impacts of market imbalances. In order to reach the goal of reducing the impacts, multiple state interventions are needed, and thoughtfully combined policies are key to success. However, finding the right combination of policies requires comprehensive information on many aspects of housing. This study compares the policy development paths of three case countries in order to examine implemented policy choices and their effects in different market situations and historical backgrounds. Four policy decision factors from previous studies (consumer choice, tenure neutrality, target setting, and organization of social housing) are key factors, and they refine the scope of this policy study. The study does not evaluate various policy performances or decides on the best choice since there is no policy to suit all cases; it instead presents alternatives. The combinations of four factors in housing policies provide insights and present possibilities for future implementations