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Housing for Refugees in Sweden: Top-Down Governance and its Local Reactions

Author

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  • Henrik Emilsson

    (Malmö University)

  • Klara Öberg

    (Halmstad University)

Abstract

In this article, we investigate local level reactions to the top-down state steering for the housing of refugees in Sweden. We especially reflect on events after the increased refugee reception in Sweden in 2015 and the introduction of a Settlement Act in 2016 which made it mandatory for municipalities to receive a specific number of refugees and organise accommodation. This has resulted in a wide array of housing situations for refugees concerning standard, costs and temporary solutions. A multi-level governance framework from on central government steering perspective is applied. We argue that the modified legislation can be understood as a change in governance throughout the years — from persuasion to economic incentives and, finally, to coercive methods. Sweden is a country that has distinguished itself as one refraining from particularity and continuing to work towards equality between newcomers and citizens. In relation to recent legal and political developments, we identify a change — a paradoxical change, as governance for the more-equal reception of refugees in Sweden seems to lead to increased inequalities for refugees on the local level.

Suggested Citation

  • Henrik Emilsson & Klara Öberg, 2022. "Housing for Refugees in Sweden: Top-Down Governance and its Local Reactions," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 613-631, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:joimai:v:23:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s12134-021-00864-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s12134-021-00864-8
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    4. Ingrid Sahlin, 2004. "Central State And Homelessness Policies In Sweden: New Ways Of Governing," European Journal of Housing Policy, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 4(3), pages 345-367.
    5. Nihad El-Kayed & Ulrike Hamann, 2018. "Refugees’ Access to Housing and Residency in German Cities: Internal Border Regimes and Their Local Variations," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 135-146.
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