Recommendations for books on housing policy?
March 11, 2023 1:53 AM Subscribe
With limited prior knowledge in this area, I would like to learn more about the various approaches different places have taken towards housing policy, and in particular how these decisions affected lower and middle class people in those places.
I have various family and friends living in different cities around the world, many of whom tell me often about the major issues with housing in their cities. On the other hand, I know some people investing in property who insist that they are doing it "responsibly". I sometimes read articles discussing housing policy proposals or changes made, but feel I don't have enough context to evaluate whether these decisions make sense. I'm interested in a book which might provide insight into some of the possibilities that exist around housing policy in different places around the world. The book could also just be about one specific place and their policies.
I have no academic background in this area, so preferably nothing which assumes lots of prior knowledge in the field.
I have various family and friends living in different cities around the world, many of whom tell me often about the major issues with housing in their cities. On the other hand, I know some people investing in property who insist that they are doing it "responsibly". I sometimes read articles discussing housing policy proposals or changes made, but feel I don't have enough context to evaluate whether these decisions make sense. I'm interested in a book which might provide insight into some of the possibilities that exist around housing policy in different places around the world. The book could also just be about one specific place and their policies.
I have no academic background in this area, so preferably nothing which assumes lots of prior knowledge in the field.
Here are two independent, non-partisan research institutes in Australia who cover housing - from a policy level.
The Grattan Institute.
The Australia Institute.
This report compares Nordic and Australian policies. Here's a quote:
"Australia’s housing affordability crisis results from over- reliance on just two options – private home ownership and private renting. To tackle it, a wider repertoire of policies is required.
Nordic nations’ widespread provision of public housing and housing co-operatives, priority for homes to live in rather than invest in, and effective reduction of homelessness, show how this can happen."
posted by lulu68 at 2:12 AM on March 11, 2023 [3 favorites]
The Grattan Institute.
The Australia Institute.
This report compares Nordic and Australian policies. Here's a quote:
"Australia’s housing affordability crisis results from over- reliance on just two options – private home ownership and private renting. To tackle it, a wider repertoire of policies is required.
Nordic nations’ widespread provision of public housing and housing co-operatives, priority for homes to live in rather than invest in, and effective reduction of homelessness, show how this can happen."
posted by lulu68 at 2:12 AM on March 11, 2023 [3 favorites]
For the US The Color of Law is essential reading for understanding how past decisions impact the housing market today, particularly for Black people.
posted by brookeb at 7:15 AM on March 11, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by brookeb at 7:15 AM on March 11, 2023 [3 favorites]
I would also recommend Homelessness is a Housing Problem to understand how policy is not working today in the US.
posted by brookeb at 7:19 AM on March 11, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by brookeb at 7:19 AM on March 11, 2023 [2 favorites]
UK
Terraformed by Joy White
Estates - An Intimate History by Lynsey Hanley
Municipal Dreams by John Broughton
posted by mani at 7:23 AM on March 11, 2023
Terraformed by Joy White
Estates - An Intimate History by Lynsey Hanley
Municipal Dreams by John Broughton
posted by mani at 7:23 AM on March 11, 2023
How the Suburbs Were Segregated, by Paige Glotzer
n.b.: this is a book primarily intended for academic audiences, but you can read an excerpt on the linked website to see if it feels readable to you.
posted by dizziest at 7:41 AM on March 11, 2023
n.b.: this is a book primarily intended for academic audiences, but you can read an excerpt on the linked website to see if it feels readable to you.
posted by dizziest at 7:41 AM on March 11, 2023
Arbitrary Lines and Zoned in the USA give a good overview of how planning works in North America.
Living Downtown is an overview of how residential hotels went from being incredibly common to being banned by most North American cities, with pretty awful impacts on lower-income folks. I *really* like this one and I think it leaves readers with a sense of history and empathy that's missing from a lot of housing policy discussions.
posted by ripley_ at 8:27 AM on March 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
Living Downtown is an overview of how residential hotels went from being incredibly common to being banned by most North American cities, with pretty awful impacts on lower-income folks. I *really* like this one and I think it leaves readers with a sense of history and empathy that's missing from a lot of housing policy discussions.
posted by ripley_ at 8:27 AM on March 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
High-Risers: Cabrini-Green and the Fate of American Public Housing is a very good look at the idea of public housing in the United States as seen through the lens of this one housing project and it really centers the voices of people of color while also talking about public housing policies. This is a different sort of thing than people becoming landlords or AirBnB moguls (I did a quick Google and didn't find anything, this other book I read personally).
posted by jessamyn at 9:16 AM on March 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by jessamyn at 9:16 AM on March 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
Capital City: Gentrification and the Real Estate State by Samuel Stein looks at the fundamental tension between housing-as-investment and housing-as-a-thing-you-need-to-live. Aimed at a lay audience.
posted by davidest at 2:33 PM on March 11, 2023
posted by davidest at 2:33 PM on March 11, 2023
« Older An inside baseball question for heavy Word users | Story-telling and Evidence-giving: How? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by aniola at 2:07 AM on March 11, 2023 [6 favorites]