Financialization of housing policies in Latin America: a comparative perspective of Brazil and Mexico

Abstract

The transformation of housing policies worldwide by the application of capital from the global financial markets has been the subject of recent research. This model leads to the reshaping of housing policies into a business model, transforming housing from a basic right to a commodity based on the ability of individuals to access credit. This issue is particularly significant in Latin American countries; the latter have been overshadowed by a historical process of urban exploitation, especially in metropolitan areas, which are territories of socioeconomic concentration. Thus, this article investigates the factors that have caused obstacles to the coordination of housing policies in metropolitan areas of Latin American countries, based on a case study of the policies promoted by the national governments of Brazil and Mexico. The results highlight the need to reflect on the process of the financialization of housing at the national and sub-national levels, which represents a major obstacle to integrated, metropolitan housing management.