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Discourses around negative gearing of investment properties in Australia

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  • Hazel Blunden

Abstract

A tax rule whereby losses on a rental property are deductible against personal taxable income (commonly known as ‘negative gearing’) is an almost uniquely Australian practice. This article explores how this practice is legitimised and justified by politicians despite coherent criticisms that the practice misdirects investment into unproductive asset speculation causing house price inflation and inequality. This article uses critical discourse analysis to examine how ‘negative gearing’ is criticised and legitimised. It is argued that the interests of the property-owning majority and electoral pragmatism determine government housing policy. There is a disjunct between the political imperative of the major parties to maintain high housing prices in order not to erode the wealth of the majority of voters (property owners) and the emerging problem of housing unaffordability. Despite mounting coherent critique coming from economists, and younger cohorts excluded from home ownership, the policy continues due to realpolitik considerations.

Suggested Citation

  • Hazel Blunden, 2016. "Discourses around negative gearing of investment properties in Australia," Housing Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(3), pages 340-357, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:chosxx:v:31:y:2016:i:3:p:340-357
    DOI: 10.1080/02673037.2015.1080820
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Judith Yates, 2011. "Housing in Australia in the 2000s: On the Agenda Too Late?," RBA Annual Conference Volume (Discontinued), in: Hugo Gerard & Jonathan Kearns (ed.),The Australian Economy in the 2000s, Reserve Bank of Australia.
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    Cited by:

    1. P. S. Morawakage & G. Earl & B. Liu & E. Roca & A. Omura, 2023. "Housing Risk and Returns in Submarkets with Spatial Dependence and Heterogeneity," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 67(4), pages 695-734, November.
    2. Nguyen, John, 2023. "The impact of private health insurance on household savings : Evidence from Australia," Warwick-Monash Economics Student Papers 48, Warwick Monash Economics Student Papers.
    3. Moradi-Motlagh, Amir & Jubb, Christine, 2020. "Examining irresponsible lending using non-radial inefficiency measures: Evidence from Australian banks," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 96-108.
    4. eccleston, richard & Verdouw, Julia & Flanagan, Kathleen & Warren, Neil & Duncan, Alan & Ong, Rachel & Whelan, Stephen & Atalay, Kadir & Hayward, Richard Donald, 2018. "Pathways to housing tax reform," SocArXiv 8xrbe, Center for Open Science.

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