IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/kyklos/v73y2020i1p96-119.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Homeownership, Political Participation, and Social Capital in Post‐Communist Countries and Western Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Huber
  • Josef Montag

Abstract

We study whether the positive effects of homeownership on political participation and social capital, found in developed market economies, extend to post‐communist countries. We use the privatization of publicly‐owned housing in post‐communist countries as an exogenous source of variation of homeownership status to identify its impact on political participation and social capital formation. We find that homeownership is strongly related to higher participation in local‐level and national elections. In post‐communist countries, homeownership is also related to higher social trust. However, the positive association between homeownership and volunteering found in developed market economies does not extend to post‐communist countries. Together, our results corroborate that homeownership is associated with positive social benefits. However, these effects are highly heterogeneous and context‐dependent.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Huber & Josef Montag, 2020. "Homeownership, Political Participation, and Social Capital in Post‐Communist Countries and Western Europe," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 73(1), pages 96-119, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:kyklos:v:73:y:2020:i:1:p:96-119
    DOI: 10.1111/kykl.12218
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/kykl.12218
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/kykl.12218?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nikolova, Elena & Sanfey, Peter, 2016. "How much should we trust life satisfaction data? Evidence from the Life in Transition Survey," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 720-731.
    2. Aaronson, Daniel, 2000. "A Note on the Benefits of Homeownership," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 356-369, May.
    3. Holzer, Harry J, 1988. "Search Method Use by Unemployed Youth," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 6(1), pages 1-20, January.
    4. Dietz, Robert D. & Haurin, Donald R., 2003. "The social and private micro-level consequences of homeownership," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(3), pages 401-450, November.
    5. Hilber, Christian A.L., 2010. "New housing supply and the dilution of social capital," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(3), pages 419-437, May.
    6. John T. Addison & Pedro Portugal, 2002. "Job search methods and outcomes," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 54(3), pages 505-533, July.
    7. Cojocaru, Alexandru, 2014. "Fairness and inequality tolerance: Evidence from the Life in Transition Survey," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 590-608.
    8. Elizabeth Brainerd & David M. Cutler, 2005. "Autopsy on an Empire: Understanding Mortality in Russia and the Former Soviet Union," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 19(1), pages 107-130, Winter.
    9. Engelhardt, Gary V. & Eriksen, Michael D. & Gale, William G. & Mills, Gregory B., 2010. "What are the social benefits of homeownership? Experimental evidence for low-income households," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(3), pages 249-258, May.
    10. Mark Stephens & Martin Lux & Petr Sunega, 2015. "Post-Socialist Housing Systems in Europe: Housing Welfare Regimes by Default?," Housing Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(8), pages 1210-1234, November.
    11. Fidrmuc, Jan & Gërxhani, Klarita, 2008. "Mind the gap! Social capital, East and West," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 264-286, June.
    12. Boenisch, Peter & Schneider, Lutz, 2013. "The social capital legacy of communism-results from the Berlin Wall experiment," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 391-411.
    13. DiPasquale, Denise & Glaeser, Edward L., 1999. "Incentives and Social Capital: Are Homeowners Better Citizens?," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(2), pages 354-384, March.
    14. Green, Richard K. & White, Michelle J., 1997. "Measuring the Benefits of Homeowning: Effects on Children," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 441-461, May.
    15. Aizawa, Toshiaki & Helble, Matthias, 2015. "Health and Home Ownership: Findings for the Case of Japan," ADBI Working Papers 525, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    16. Broulíková, Hana M. & Huber, Peter & Montag, Josef & Sunega, Petr, 2020. "Homeownership, mobility, and unemployment: Evidence from housing privatization," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    17. Timo Zumbro, 2014. "The Relationship Between Homeownership and Life Satisfaction in Germany," Housing Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(3), pages 319-338, April.
    18. Donald R. Haurin & Toby L. Parcel & R. Jean Haurin, 2002. "Does Homeownership Affect Child Outcomes?," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 30(4), pages 635-666.
    19. Gintautas Bloze, 2009. "Interregional migration and housing structure in an East European transition country: A view of Lithuania 2001-2008," Baltic Journal of Economics, Baltic International Centre for Economic Policy Studies, vol. 9(2), pages 47-66, December.
    20. Paldam, M. & Svendsen, G.T., 2000. "Missing Social Capital and the Transition in Eastern Europe," Papers 00-5, Aarhus School of Business - Department of Economics.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jirjahn, Uwe & Le, Thi Xuan Thu, 2023. "Works Councils and Workers' Party Preferences in Germany," IZA Discussion Papers 15879, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Szostak Michał, 2021. "Does Polish Post-Communist Cultural Burden Influence the Perception of Creative Identities?," Journal of Intercultural Management, Sciendo, vol. 13(2), pages 29-58, June.
    3. Szostak Michał, 2022. "Digitalisation and Virtualisation of the Aesthetic Situation Management: Polish Musical Art Creators during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Journal of Intercultural Management, Sciendo, vol. 14(2), pages 41-65, December.
    4. Michal Szostak, 2021. "Post-communist Burden Influence on the Perception of Crea-tive Identities: Consequences for Managers and Leaders," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(3), pages 282-302.
    5. Stepan Mikula & Josef Montag, 2019. "Does homeownership hinder labor market activity? Evidence from housing privatization and restitution in Brno," MUNI ECON Working Papers 2019-06, Masaryk University, revised Feb 2023.
    6. Jeremy Clark & Abel François & Olivier Gergaud, 2020. "Electoral Turnout and Social Capital," Working Papers in Economics 20/13, University of Canterbury, Department of Economics and Finance.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lagomarsino, Bruno Cardinale & Rossi, Martin A., 2024. "JUE insight: The unintended effect of Argentina's subsidized homeownership lottery program on intimate partner violence," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    2. Aarland, Kristin & Santiago, Anna Maria & Galster, George C. & Nordvik, Viggo, 2021. "Childhood Housing Tenure and Young Adult Educational Outcomes: Evidence from Sibling Comparisons in Norway," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    3. Gabriel M. Ahlfeldt & Wolfgang Maennig, 2019. "Gewinner und Verlierer von Stadtentwicklung: Ein Plädoyer für mehr Wohneigentum [Winners and losers of urban development: A plea for more home ownership]," Zeitschrift für Immobilienökonomie (German Journal of Real Estate Research), Springer;Gesellschaft für Immobilienwirtschaftliche Forschung e. V., vol. 5(1), pages 111-130, November.
    4. Eric Fesselmeyer & Kiat Ying Seah, 2018. "Individual Payoffs and the Effect of Homeownership on Social Capital Investment," Journal of Housing Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(1), pages 59-78, January.
    5. Wang, Jia & Winters, John V. & Yuan, Weici, 2022. "Can legal status help unauthorized immigrants achieve the American dream? Evidence from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    6. Grinstein-Weiss, Michal & Greeson, Johanna K.P. & Yeo, Yeong H. & Birdsong, Susanna S. & Despard, Mathieu R. & Quercia, Roberto G., 2009. "The impact of low- and moderate-wealth homeownership on parental attitudes and behavior: Evidence from the community advantage panel," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 23-31, January.
    7. John Gibson & Bonggeun Kim, 2018. "Home Ownership and Political Participation: Longitudinal Evidence Suggests There is No Causal Relationship," Working Papers in Economics 18/02, University of Waikato.
    8. Matthew Roskruge & Arthur Grimes & Philip McCann & Jacques Poot, 2013. "Homeownership, Social Capital and Satisfaction with Local Government," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 50(12), pages 2517-2534, September.
    9. Cansino Muñoz-Repiso, José Manuel & Sánchez Braza, Antonio, 2009. "Evaluación del programa de Escuelas Taller y Casas de Oficios a partir de su efecto sobre el tiempo de búsqueda del primer empleo. El caso de Sevilla/," Estudios de Economia Aplicada, Estudios de Economia Aplicada, vol. 27, pages 277(22)-277, Abril.
    10. Dirk Brounen & Ruben Cox & Peter Neuteboom, 2012. "Safe and Satisfied? External Effects of Homeownership in Rotterdam," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 49(12), pages 2669-2691, September.
    11. Jie Chen, 2013. "Housing tenure, residential mobility and adolescents’ education achievement: evidence from Sweden," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 50(1), pages 275-294, February.
    12. Andrea Morescalchi, 2016. "The Puzzle Of Job Search And Housing Tenure: A Reconciliation Of Theory And Empirical Evidence," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(2), pages 288-312, March.
    13. Grinstein-Weiss, Michal & Williams Shanks, Trina R. & Manturuk, Kim R. & Key, Clinton C. & Paik, Jong-Gyu & Greeson, Johann K.P., 2010. "Homeownership and parenting practices: Evidence from the community advantage panel," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(5), pages 774-782, May.
    14. Grimes, Arthur & Stillman, Steven & Young, Chris, 2011. "Homeownership, Social Capital and Parental Voice in Schooling," IZA Discussion Papers 6168, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    15. Hembre, Erik & Dantas, Raissa, 2022. "Tax incentives and housing decisions: Effects of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    16. Dwight Jaffee & John M. Quigley, 2012. "The Future of the Government-Sponsored Enterprises: The Role for Government in the U.S. Mortgage Market," NBER Chapters, in: Housing and the Financial Crisis, pages 361-417, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    17. Peter Huber & Stepan Mikula, 2019. "Social capital and willingness to migrate in post-communist countries," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 46(1), pages 31-59, February.
    18. Michal Grinstein-Weiss & Clinton Key & Yeong Hun Yeo & Joan Yoo & Krista Holub & Andrea Taylor & Jenna Tucker, 2012. "Homeownership, Neighbourhood Characteristics and Children’s Positive Behaviours among Low- and Moderate-income Households," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 49(16), pages 3545-3563, December.
    19. Mingzhi Hu & Zhenguo Lin & Yingchun Liu, 2024. "Housing Disparity between Homeowners and Renters: Evidence from China," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 68(1), pages 28-51, January.
    20. David Barker & Eric Miller, 2009. "Homeownership and Child Welfare," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 37(2), pages 279-303, June.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D62 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Externalities
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • P14 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Property Rights
    • P26 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Property Rights

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:kyklos:v:73:y:2020:i:1:p:96-119. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0023-5962 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.