The redistributive effect of public housing in Hong Kong

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Urban Studies: An International Journal of Research in Urban Studies

Publication Date

9-1-2007

Volume

44

Issue

10

First Page

1937

Last Page

1952

Publisher

Sage Publications Ltd.

Abstract

Public housing programmes in Hong Kong affect half of the population directly and the other half indirectly. This paper assesses the redistributive effect of public rental housing on income distribution. It uses a subsidised-to-market rent ratio method and an imputed rent method to convert transfer-in-kind of public rental housing into equivalent monetary value. Empirical results show that the provision of public housing alleviates the income inequality problem. However, the amount of public expenditure required achieving the same improvements in Gini coefficient and other inequality measures is small relative to the actual public expenditure on housing. Policy-makers should thoroughly review the existing public housing programmes

DOI

10.1080/00420980701471919

Print ISSN

00420980

E-ISSN

1360063X

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2007, Urban Studies Journal Limited

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

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Lui, H. K. (2007). The redistributive effect of public housing in Hong Kong. Urban Studies, 44(10), 1937-1952. doi: 10.1080/00420980701471919

Share

COinS