Inequality and housing (policy)

Jiaxin He, Yaqin Li and Sanbai Sun

Chapter 7 in Handbook on Inequality in China, 2025, pp 145-166 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter explores housing inequality in China, including its development, key factors, and broader economic and social consequences since the 1998 housing reforms. The real estate market in China has transformed significantly post-reforms, leading to increased rates of homeownership but also widening disparities in housing wealth and size. Factors such as house prices, public services, government policies, and urban-rural gaps are highlighted as contributors to these inequalities. Urban areas, especially in eastern regions, have seen a surge in house prices driven by location and access to amenities that exacerbate wealth discrepancies. Conversely, rural residents face challenges accessing adequate housing due to obstacles posed by the hukou system and income disparities that deepen the urban-rural divide. Moreover, this review examines how housing inequality impacts financial market engagement, entrepreneurial activities, educational investments, and consumption patterns while emphasizing the “crowding out” effect within China's context.

Keywords: Housing inequality; Housing policy; Asset inequality; Social welfare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035317790
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