Aging and housing market dynamics: A case study of local supply and demand

Abstract

In this article the local housing market effects of an aging population are analysed. Most studies focus on the demand side, mainly due to lack of good data. In this study we were able to make use of census data of these processes, including household and housing characteristics. These data give more information than ordinary cross‐sectional data. The census made it possible to study observed demand but also to study the extent as well as the composition of supply created by the elderly. By combining and comparing two census years dynamic aspects of housing market behaviour could be analysed. By means of a case study we will show how important both supply and demand effects of an aging population are for the functioning of a local housing market. The case study is restricted to the housing market behaviour of singles of 55 years or over on the housing market of Gavle.