Overcrowding and ‘underoccupancy’ in Romania: a case study of housing inequality

Soaita, A. M. (2014) Overcrowding and ‘underoccupancy’ in Romania: a case study of housing inequality. Environment and Planning A, 46(1), pp. 203-221. (doi: 10.1068/a45718)

Abstract

This paper examines aspects of space consumption in two very different housing types: The communist mid-rise estates and postcommunist suburban self-built housing. Examining residents' perceptions in order to categorise space as overcrowded or underoccupied, the paper engages critically with the issue of the inefficient distribution of Romanian housing: that is, a considerable mismatch between dwelling and household size. The analysis documents the continued salience of overcrowding in the communist estates and, conversely, self-builders' satisfaction with the generous size of their new homes. Market forces permit various modes of residential mobility, but their likely outcome is growing housing inequality while any redistributive impact will remain insignificant unless policy incentives could facilitate conversion of underoccupied space into (social) renting housing. However, only a sustained delivery of larger and affordable new dwellings could alleviate overcrowding.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Soaita, Dr Adriana Mihaela
• Authors: Soaita, A. M.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Journal Name: Environment and Planning A
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• ISSN: 0308-518X
• ISSN (Online): 1472-3409
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2014 Pion and its Licensors
• First Published: First published in Environment and Planning A 46(1): 203-221
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy