Privatization of public housing : did it cause the 1998 recession in Hong Kong?

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Contemporary Economic Policy

Publication Date

4-1-2006

Volume

24

Issue

2

First Page

262

Last Page

273

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.

Abstract

This paper finds evidence that a public housing privatization program produced adverse effects on housing transactions and the economy in Hong Kong. A Granger causality test shows that house prices drive housing transactions, lending support to the hypothesis that an increase or decrease in prices at the lower end of the market sends ripple effects throughout the whole market. 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 thus the equity of homeowners. The hypothesis is supported by evidence indicating a structural break in the housing price relationship at the time the privatization program is introduced. Declines in housing prices further eroded employment and set off a vicious circle.

DOI

10.1093/cep/byj017

Print ISSN

10743529

E-ISSN

14657287

Publisher Statement

Copyright © Western Economic Association International 2005

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Ho, L. S., & Wong, W. C. G. (2006). Privatization of public housing: Did it cause the 1998 recession in Hong Kong? Contemporary Economic Policy, 24(2), 262-273. doi: 10.1093/cep/byj017

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