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Lecturer(s)
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Lux Martin, doc. Ing. Mgr. Ph.D.
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Course content
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1. Interdisciplinary methods of housing research: housing - a crossroad of economics, psychology, sociology and architecture. 2. International comparison of housing systems: housing as a socio-cultural phenomenon and trends in housing systems in EU and other post-socialist states. What is housing system? What does housing tenure mean and why is so crucial for understanding housing system changes? 3. Housing attitudes: from renting to owner-occupation and from apartment to house. The methods of housing preference research, experimental research. What is better renting or owning? 4. Social norms and their influence in the field of housing. What could be the consequences of social norm according to which homeownership is the best housing tenure, on development of markets and social inequalities? 5. Housing, the state, the local government and NGOs: roles of distinct actors in the field of housing, central and local housing policy, housing policy tools and methods for their assessment. 6. Trends and international comparison of housing policies in EU and other post-socialist countries: history, evaluation and innovation. Why innovative and well-targeted policy tools are only rarely implemented in the CR and other post-socialist states? Are municipalities able to conduct active and effective housing policy? What can be the role of NGOs? 7. Housing and social stratification: housing classes and housing inequalities. What is the main axis of housing inequalities in our country? Who is the winner and who is the looser of changes after 1989? What social cleavages can we expect in the future? Is there anything like "housing class"? 8. Homelessness, social exclusion and social housing. Trends in social housing, its forms, international comparison of systems, discussion about the need of social housing in the CR. What are the main causes of homelessness and how to conduct a proper research of homeless? Do we need social housing? For whom and what should be the main conditions? Who should provide and manage social housing and why? What are the innovations in the field of social housing? 9. Housing market and its specific features, market inefficiency, house price bubbles: how to invest to housing? How to make qualified decisions on housing market? Why is the market implicitly inefficient? Can we expect a new real-estate price bubble? Is it now? How to find it out? And can we do anything to prevent from it? 10. Methods for construction of house price indices and housing market prognosis. Is it possible to estimate future price trends? Can we believe press news about price development? How to measure properly the changes in house prices? 11. Financial affordability of housing: limits for measurement and regional disparities in the CR. How to measure housing affordability? How to use it for new and amended housing and social policy tools? Are regional differences in housing affordability increasing or decreasing in the CR? 12. The impact of housing on labour market and labour migration: methods of research and its results. Is there any impact of housing market on trends in employment and migration?
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Lecture, Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming)
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Learning outcomes
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The aim of the course is to inform students about methods of housing research and about research results in international perspective. Housing will be presented as a subject for an interdisciplinary research that connects different disciplines of social sciences, such as economics, sociology, psychology, social policy and social work. Students will thus get a general knowledge about added value of interdisciplinary research, which connects theories and methods of different disciplines, for understanding the current world. The focus will be paid on international comparison and practical benefits of the housing research. The course will provide information on behaviour of housing markets, international trends in housing systems, psychological and sociological aspects of shaping housing preferences, role of social norms in the field of housing and information on formation of housing inequalities, including extreme forms of inequality, such as spatial segregation and homelessness. Important part of the course will be devoted to trends and evaluation of local and central housing policies.
The students will use information and skills acquired during the course either in academic and market research, or in practical fields, such as social housing, social work, real-estate consultancy, residential investments, preparation and evaluation of local and central housing policy tools. The course should also help them to make more informed decisions during acquisition of their own housing.
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Prerequisites
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No prior requirements. The course is suitable also for students of other majors than sociology.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Oral exam, Seminar Work
The oral exam: maximum of 50 points. Student understands topics of the course and is able to discuss them. Seminar written paper on topic selected by student: 7-10 norm-pages, maximum of 50 points. The main criteria for an evaluation of the paper is clarity, quality of argument (problem setting, structure, references) and especially own added value to existing knowledge, such as critical assessment of specific phenomenon or text, or suggestion for innovative solution (e.g., in the field of housing policy, housing research, housing theory or other).
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Recommended literature
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Balchin, P, Rhoden M. (eds.). (2002). Housing: The Essential Foundations. London: Routledge.
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Boelhouwer, P.J., H.M.H. van der Heijden. (1992). Housing Systems in Europe. Delft: Delft University Press.
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Kemeny, J. (1992). Housing and Social Theory. London, New York: Routledge.
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Lux, M. (ed.). 2011. Standardy bydlení 2010/2011: Sociální nerovnosti a tržní rizika v bydlení. Praha: Sociologický ústav AV ČR..
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Lux, M. (ed.). 2015. Standardy bydlení 2014/2015: Sociální normy a rozhodování na trhu bydlení. Praha: Sociologický ústav AV ČR..
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Lux, M., Kostelecký T. (eds.). (2011). Bytová politika. Teorie a inovace pro praxi. SLON, Praha.
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Oxley, M., J. Smith. (1996). Housing Policy and Rented Housing in Europe. London: Chapman and Hall.
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