Housing Policy Reforms in Post-Socialist Europe

The book provides unique insights into the process of housing reforms in post-socialist Europe during its transition to markets and democracy. It explores the relationships between housing policy and housing system performance in nine countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Republic of Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro. The research captures important housing policy and market dynamics producing tangible outcomes of the transition processes. Using a comparative framework for analysis and evaluation, the book provides an enduring and sound illustration of the post-socialialist experience highlighting patterns of diversity, complexity and institutional transformation in the new path-dependent housing systems in the region. The research is driven by the premise that housing policy matters and that better policies lead to more efficient housing system performance.

The book provides a rich framework for evaluation of housing reforms in a dynamic region. Well written, subtle and insightful, it will set the terms of the debate on transition in housing for years to come... a must read.

Dr Robert Buckley, Rockefeller Foundation, New York, USA

This is an excellent and very systematic account of housing reforms, housing systems and housing policies in post-socialist Europe. An important piece of work bringing new ideas and new arguments for housing policy research in a very challenging way.

Professor Ronald van Kempen, Utrecht University, the Netherlands

*

• The author is amazingly knowledgeable about housing issues across transition economies and the book provide extremely useful and comprehensive analysis of both the problems encountered and the policies implemented.

Professor Christine Whitehead, London School of Economics, UK

This book provides a thorough and systematic review of the housing systems of South East Europe. It is a valuable source book and a powerful evaluation that demonstrates beyond doubt that 'housing policy matters'.

Professor Mark Stephens, Centre for Housing Policy, University of York, UK

Zusammenfassung
The book explores both theoretically and empirically the impacts of housing reforms on housing provision in the context of the transition from a centrally-planned to a market-based economy. Fifteen years after the overthrow of state socialism housing policy has lost its privileged status of a political priority as most politically emb- ded systems had favoured market-based solutions to housing problems. This dep- ture from state controlled housing policies with the aim of providing a dwelling for every family is significant, particularly in some post-socialist countries where no new housing policy has emerged. The transition process, embedded in the paradigm shift from central planning to markets, has triggered off turbulence and adjustments with tangible outcomes in post-socialist housing systems. What has changed and what new housing systems have emerged during this dramatic 'transition to markets and democracy'? Are these systems more efficient and equitable? These questions are the main focus of the book with an emphasis on diversity and change in housing reforms. The book supports the hypothesis that notions of convergence are not really appropriate to the conceptualisation of post-socialist housing systems. It argues that different housing policy choices are going to map out increasingly divergent s- nario for future development.

Inhalt
Introduction: Conceptual Framework for Comparative Analysis.- The Legacy of Socialist Housing Systems.- Political, Social and Economic Transitions.- Housing Policy Reforms in South East Europe.- Government Support for Housing.- Housing Systems: Performance Challenges.- Housing Privatisation, Housing Management and Public Housing.- Housing Finance and New Housing Provision.- The Transition in Housing and Informal Settlements.- The Transition in Housing and Nations of Homeowners.