Housing Conditions, States, Markets and Households: A Pan-European Analysis

This article explores variations in housing outcomes in European Union member states that are measured in terms of the quality and affordability of accommodation. It reveals marked north/south and east/west inter-country variations in the outcomes considered. These variations are related to differences in housing inputs and outputs which are analyzed with reference to Esping-Andersen's (1999 Esping-Andersen, Gosta. 1999. The Social Foundations of Postindustrial Economies, Oxford: Oxford University Press. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]) distinction between the three main societal institutions that provide welfare services – states, markets and households. This analysis indicates that poor housing outcomes are associated with reliance on a single driver, i.e. state, market or household. Reliance on multiple drivers – states and markets for instance – is associated with better housing outcomes. However, household-driven housing systems, whether associated with another driver or not, generally result in poor outcomes.