Author: Lundqvist Lennart J.
Publisher: Routledge Ltd
ISSN: 1466-1810
Source: Housing Studies, Vol.13, Iss.2, 1998-03, pp. : 217-231
Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Starting from the Conservative assertion that home ownership fosters politically active and virtuous citizens, this paper examines two lines of argument in housing theory; (a) Jim Kemeny's thesis that owner occupation is closely linked to increasing privatism , i.e. a growth in lifestyles centred around the home and privacy rather than the workplace or the public affairs in a society, and (b) Peter Saunders' thesis that home owners will organise and mobilise politically in defence of their property interests if and when various government agencies threaten to remove their tax subsidies. To test these propositions empirically, data on the effects of the rapid and comprehensive dismantling of tax privileges to Swedish home owners in the 1980s and early 1990s are confronted with data on political interest, participation and knowledge as well as civic trust and responsibility from the Swedish election surveys of 1979, 1985 and 1991. Contrary to Conservative beliefs, home owners do not stand out as 'democratic examples'; with the exception of political knowledge and party membership, they are no more 'civil' or 'democratic' than other citizens. There is also not much to support Kemeny's 'privatism' or Saunders' 'reaction-to-threat' theses. Although home owners in Sweden saw their tax privileges diminishing rapidly during the 1980s and early 1990s, they do not show the distinctive patterns of change in democratic orientation and spirit predicted by these two housing theorists. To allow for an even more conclusive test of Kemeny's 'privatism' thesis, however, one must overcome the mismatch of income definitions in housing statistics and election survey data.
Related content
Property Owning Democracies? Home Owner Corporations in Hong Kong
Housing Studies, Vol. 17, Iss. 5, 2002-09 ,pp. :
How do post-occupancy evaluation and the facilities manager meet?
By Eley Joanna
Building Research and Information, Vol. 29, Iss. 2, 2001-03 ,pp. :
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, Vol. 86, Iss. 5, 2016-09 ,pp. :
Re-examining the costs and value ratios of owning and occupying buildings
By Ive Graham
Building Research and Information, Vol. 34, Iss. 3, 2006-05 ,pp. :
By Marris Peter
International Planning Studies, Vol. 6, Iss. 3, 2001-08 ,pp. :