일본 임차가구의 주거비부담능력 변화와 정책적 함의

Abstract

The change in the Japanese rental housing policy since the 1990s appeared as a reduction in the role of central government, an expansion in the local government's discretion, and an increase in the dependence on the housing market. As a result, the supply of new public rental housing decreased drastically and the rent regulation was eased. This study is designed to evaluate the validity of the policy change through an analysis of the change in housing affordability of tenants during the period of 1983~2008. The analysis showed that the housing affordability and the accessibility to the housing market by tenants had been improved, confirming that if the public rental housing stock was properly used, the housing needs of the low-income tenants would be met without new supply. Therefore, it appeared that the change in the Japanese rental housing policy may have a certain amount of validity. However, the study pointed out that the validity of the policy change must be limited as the future risk factors such as the possibility of residualisation of public rental housing and the increase of poor households according to job insecurity were not well considered. Accordingly, in conclusion this study suggests that new policy instruments should be developed at central government-level, such as offering incentives for local governments and establishing a housing allowance etc.