Housing as investment in Greece and Southern Europe. Private profit vs social value

Abstract

This study argues that mainstream policy mechanisms and assumptions presented as solutions to the housing problem - such as reliance on free market supply-and-demand dynamics to self-regulate market prices, effectiveness of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) on market terms for social and affordable housing production, or the attraction of strategic investment in housing without robust public regulation- are inherently part of the problem. These beliefs must be critically challenged.