Housing production, tenure mix and social mix

Abstract

Social mix through tenure mix is a policy tool to combat segregation in Sweden and elsewhere. We study if new construction of housing in Swedish cities, 1995–2017, has affected tenure mix in neighborhoods, and if this in turn affected social mix. Findings show that housing construction contributes to tenure mix, but effects on social mix are less clear. We show a negative association between new housing production and increased social mix; however, those living in new housing in higher income neighborhoods tend to have lower incomes than those living in older housing and vice versa in lower income neighborhoods. This shows that new housing production is a tool for creating social mix, but other processes may dwarf the effects. We conclude that while housing tenure mix is a blunt tool for creating social mix, there are positive effects of such efforts.