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Privatization Of Public Housing: Did It Cause The 1998 Recession In Hong Kong?

Author

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  • LOK SANG HO
  • GARY WAI‐CHUNG WONG

Abstract

The authors find evidence that a public housing privatization program produced adverse effects on housing transactions and the economy in Hong Kong. A scheme announced in December 1997, offering tenants an opportunity to buy their units at deeply discounted prices, reduced public housing tenants' bids for private homes and adversely affected home transactions. This effect is more pronounced than the effects of the Asian Financial Crisis. An effect on housing prices is also indirectly shown though a demonstration that a structural break in the housing price relationship occurred at the time the privatization program was introduced. Declines in housing prices further eroded employment and set off a vicious circle. (JEL E32, R21, R31)

Suggested Citation

  • Lok Sang Ho & Gary Wai‐Chung Wong, 2006. "Privatization Of Public Housing: Did It Cause The 1998 Recession In Hong Kong?," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 24(2), pages 262-273, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:24:y:2006:i:2:p:262-273
    DOI: 10.1093/cep/byj017
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Riddel, Mary, 1999. "Fundamentals, Feedback Trading, and Housing Market Speculation: Evidence from California," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 8(4), pages 272-284, December.
    2. Lok Sang Ho, 1995. "Privatization Of Public Housing: An Analysis Of Policy Alternatives," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 13(3), pages 53-63, July.
    3. Reichert, Alan K, 1990. "The Impact of Interest Rates, Income, and Employment upon Regional Housing Prices," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 3(4), pages 373-391, December.
    4. Jeremy C. Stein, 1995. "Prices and Trading Volume in the Housing Market: A Model with Down-Payment Effects," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 110(2), pages 379-406.
    5. Cutler, David M & Poterba, James M & Summers, Lawrence H, 1990. "Speculative Dynamics and the Role of Feedback Traders," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 80(2), pages 63-68, May.
    6. François Ortalo-Magné & Sven Rady, 2006. "Housing Market Dynamics: On the Contribution of Income Shocks and Credit Constraints ," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 73(2), pages 459-485.
    7. Karl E. Case, 2000. "Real Estate and Macroeconomy," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 31(2), pages 119-162.
    8. Harris, Jack C, 1989. "The Effect of Real Rates of Interest on Housing Prices," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 47-60, February.
    9. Hali J. Edison & Pongsak Luangaram & Marcus Miller, 1998. "Asset bubbles, domino effects and 'lifeboats': elements of the East Asian crisis," International Finance Discussion Papers 606, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Shing-Yi Wang, 2011. "State Misallocation and Housing Prices: Theory and Evidence from China," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 101(5), pages 2081-2107, August.
    2. Li, Yu & Liu, Kai & Lu, Xiaoying & Wang, Ben Zhe & Zhou, Xuan, 2022. "Welfare housing and household consumption in urban China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 326-334.
    3. Ho, Lok Sang & Wong, Gary Wai-chung, 2009. "The first step on the housing ladder: A natural experiment in Hong Kong," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 59-67, March.
    4. Lok Sang Ho & Gary Wong, 2008. "Nexus Between Housing And The Macro Economy: The Hong Kong Case," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(2), pages 223-239, May.
    5. Gary Wai Chung Wong & Lok Sang Ho, 2017. "Policy-Driven Housing Cycle: The Hong Kong Case of Supply Intervention," International Real Estate Review, Global Social Science Institute, vol. 20(3), pages 375-396.
    6. Charles Ka Yui Leung, 2015. "Availability, Affordability and Volatility: The Case of the Hong Kong Housing Market," International Real Estate Review, Global Social Science Institute, vol. 18(3), pages 383-428.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • R21 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Housing Demand
    • R31 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Housing Supply and Markets

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