Housing Cooperatives Research Articles

ПОВСЯКДЕННЕ ЖИТТЯ СІЛЬСЬКОГО НАСЕЛЕННЯ УКРАЇНИ В УМОВАХ «ПЕРЕБУДОВИ» 1985–1991 рр.

On the eve of Gorbachev’s «perestroika» of 1985–1991, a special type of Soviet family was formed in Soviet society, characterized by the presence of a state or cooperative apartment, saving money for cars and retirement, standing in long lines for scarce or imported goods. Life in the city was becoming more comfortable, while the situation in the countryside was improving slowly and even regressing in some places. It was the worst in villages with a population of less than 100 people. Such settlements lacked basic infrastructure, such as a kindergarten, school, medical center, cultural center, catering facility, etc. The only thing they had was a small shop. In 1985, a republican scientific and practical conference on the complex restructuring of rural settlements was held in Dnipropetrovs’k. The isolated experience of the Dnipropetrovs’k region on the socio-economic development of rural areas was summarized by the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine. The Dnipropetrovs’k version of village reconstruction was considered justified and was used as an example for other regions of the Ukrainian SSR. Understanding the migration problem, the Dnipropetrovs’k region tried to find various incentives for young workers. In particular, it provided housing on a priority basis; provided consumer goods; and retained 25% of the average salary during the term of service for those who left their native village to join the USSR Armed Forces. And most importantly, it created a network of secondary schools that provided the necessary secondary education and the perspective of obtaining an agricultural profession in the vocational education system, thereby encouraging young people to stay in the countryside. At the same time, the village was losing its prestige. There was a growing migration of young people from villages to cities. The birth rate was decreasing. Villages were rapidly «aging». Young people in the countryside wanted to «escape» to the city as soon as possible, as they saw the hard, hopeless life of their parents. Those who «escaped» from the village mostly joined the ranks of workers and received housing in a dormitory in the city. The dissatisfaction of rural residents was primarily caused by the social and domestic sphere. Namely, poor medical care, poor road transport networks, low gasification, trade and cultural services, and water supply. Although the provision of living space exceeded the city’s average, it was significantly inferior in terms of comfort.

The Failed Housing Cooperative Project of the Oriental Savings Association: Housing and Urban Rent in Istanbul in the 1880s and 1890s

The Failed Housing Cooperative Project of the Oriental Savings Association: Housing and Urban Rent in Istanbul in the 1880s and 1890s

Success and Risks Related to Housing Projects in Pakistan: A Moderating Role of Project Management Risk Management

This study investigates the critical success factors (CSFs) and their interplay with project risks in determining the success of housing projects in Karachi, Pakistan, while considering the moderating role of risk management. Analyzing data from 432 project management professionals within Karachi-based housing societies, the study establishes significant relationships between CSFs and various project success dimensions, including time, cost, quality, project profile objectives, impact, stakeholder satisfaction, and preparation for the future. Additionally, the research reveals that project risks exert substantial influence on these success dimensions. Risk management is a strong moderator, increasing risk variable’s influence on project results. The findings provide insightful information for decision-makers, recommending the creation of sector-specific rules that place a strong emphasis on the highest standards in risk management and project execution. The construction industry benefits from this since it encourages long-term development and leads to better results for projects.

THE IMPACT OF URBAN EXPANSION AND SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES IN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR OF PAKISTAN

In Pakistan population growth rate has increased drastically, in the recent years. It is the matter of serious concern for a country like Pakistan because the economy of the state lies in the agricultural sector and urban expansion is threatening our sustainable farming. With the expansion of urbanization, fertile land is shrinking which leads to economic devolution. People use to migrate from rural to urban areas in large number in recent years, due to the availability of better opportunities including better health and education services, good transportation and communication and a better livelihood in urban regions, this resulted in the shortage of fertile land in country. This paper is written through systemic literature review of recently published 20 articles. Secondary data is collected by examining data from Google scholar, and JStore. This data was collected, reviewed and analyzed to find out the causes, results, impacts and the consequences of urbanization. This article highlights the significance of proper urban planning, sustainable farming practices and prosperity of agriculture sector in the country. The review of the studies revealed that one major reason is the development of housing societies which focused more fertile land being consumed to ensure better life standards. Reduced agriculture land has affected the economy by increasing the dependence on imports of food products to fulfill the local demand affected the economy of country. Through proper urban planning and better housing policies we can spare more land for agricultural use. It will make us less dependent on imports and lead to a sustainable economy. Key words: Urbanization, sustainable farming, agriculture, land capacity, Pakistan

Analysing and Enhancing the Level of Awareness about Air Quality among the Teenagers to Achieve Healthier Environment in Lahore

Urban areas have witnessed a rapid increase in population all around the globe during the last few decades. Pakistan has also experienced rapid urbanization which has depleted available resources and created many challenges. These include an unplanned urban sprawl, long travel distances within the city, and the destruction of natural environment. Undoubtedly, among all the issues the city of Lahore is currently facing, poor air quality appears at the top of the list. The deprivation of trees and agricultural land, pollution generated by the construction of housing societies and road networks, and smoke emitted from motor vehicles and factories are some of the major factors contributing to air pollution in Lahore. The study aims to assess the air pollution awareness among the teenagers of Lahore city. Keeping in view the fact that air pollution has increased cardiac and respiratory diseases, it is important to educate the masses to improve air quality for a healthier and liveable environment. The government should introduce more effective legislation to control pollution; however, it needs consistent support from citizens, architects, builders, and all other stakeholders for its successful implementation. Educational institutions and media can play a significant role in creating awareness through education and positive campaigning. At the end, the study discusses how people can positively contribute to the solution when they come to know the intensity of the problem and its harmful effects.

Balancing Urban Development: Literature on the Nexus Between Affordable Housing and Urban Sprawl

The complex relationship between affordable housing and urban sprawl has major implications for cities all over the world. While urban sprawl offers lower housing costs and increased space as benefits, it also does present serious environmental, social, and economic issues. Undoubtedly, the rising cost of housing in the urban centers has forced the no income and the low-income populations to the periphery and thus increasing economic inequality and displacement. The growing urban sprawl has given rise to environmental degradation, social isolation, and economic inefficiency, which is further intensifying the displacement of low-income individuals and their families. This again is the remote cause of overcrowding as it restrains upward economic mobility. The aim of this research is to examine the complex relationship that exists between affordable housing and urban sprawl, and to propose ways to balance these dynamics. Key objectives include analyzing the adverse impacts of urban sprawl on the environment, societal fabric, and economic productivity; investigating the driving forces behind rising housing costs and their repercussions on low-income households; evaluating existing policies and strategies addressing affordable housing and urban sprawl; and proposing innovative solutions for sustainable urban development with equitable access to affordable housing. With the use of a literature review methodology, this study offers a comprehensive strategy. Stronger land use planning and zoning, improved public transportation and active transportation infrastructure, the expansion, building and preservation of more affordable housing, the promotion of social justice and community involvement and the use of technology and data-driven approaches are policy recommendations. The adoption of micro-units and tiny homes, co-housing and shared living arrangements, adaptive reuse and mixed-use development, community land trusts and housing cooperatives are some of the innovative recommendations. By striking a balance between affordable housing and sustainable urban development, these strategies hope to foster inclusive and thriving cities. Keywords: Urban sprawl, Affordable housing, Sustainable urban development, Low-Income Households, Land-Use Policy, Compact city planning, Community engagement

New Digital Order and its Implications on Indian Family Relationships

The extensive adoption of mobile devices in India has revolutionized family communication patterns, presenting new dynamics and challenges. This study investigates the role of mobile communication in various aspects of family relationships, including parent-child interactions, marital relationships, and intergenerational dynamics. The aim is to see the evolving landscape of family relations in the digital era on family communication patterns, psychological well-being, and social connectedness. Mobile devices facilitate frequent and convenient communication, allowing family members to stay connected despite physical distances. It has also been observed to increase monitoring and supervision by parents, which may positively influence parent-child relationships. However, excessive mobile usage and dependency may lead to neglect of face-to-face interactions, resulting in reduced family interactions and communication. It is essential to explore the potential consequences of excessive mobile usage and identify strategies to promote healthy mobile communication practices within Indian families. The researcher conducted ten semi-structured interviews in a suburban housing society in Mumbai suburbs with similar socioeconomic strata. The aim was to know more about how mobile phones affect family communications. Qualitative grounded theory analysis was used to find themes and interpret results. (Creswell, 2013) The study explores the role of mobile communication in family relationships, emphasizing the need for effective management of mobile device usage within households. Setting time limits, boosting digital literacy, and encouraging family activities offline are among tactics that could help lessen the detrimental effects of mobile communication on family dynamics. Furthermore, understanding the cultural context of Indian families is crucial, as it can influence the adoption and interpretation of mobile technology within familial relationships. The research concludes that the role of mobile communication and usage in Indian family relations is a complex and multifaceted process. While mobile devices offer convenience and connectivity, their impact on family dynamics must be considered. This research abstract highlights the need for further investigation into the effects of mobile communication on different aspects of family relationships in the Indian context.

How do economic policy uncertainty and leverage impact firm-level cash holding distribution of housing companies in an emerging economy? A quantile regression approach

PurposeHigh economic policy uncertainty forces firms to accumulate a higher level of cash than during normal business periods. However, it is not evident that economic policy uncertainty has a homogeneous impact across cash-holding distributions. This paper aims to study the impact of economic policy uncertainty, leverage and their interaction on cash-holding distributions.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a quantile regression approach to examine the influence of economic policy uncertainty and firm leverage on firm-level cash-holding distributions. To investigate the influence across quantiles, the author estimated 19 quantiles between 0.05 and 0.95.FindingsThis study finds that both economic policy uncertainty and firm leverage significantly affect firm-level cash-holding distributions heterogeneously. But, the impact of the interaction of these two variables is significant only for firms placed in the 60th to 85th quantiles of cash holding distribution.Originality/valueThe study adds to the existing knowledge of determinants of firm-level cash holdings but takes exogenous variables as economic policy uncertainty. The paper builds on a unique sample setting wherein, the cash holdings of all nonfinancial firms have increased many folds, including housing companies in an emerging economy.

Bioaccumulation of microplastics in the edible tissues of fish collected from urban lakes of Bangladesh: a potential exposure to public health.

Microplastic (MP) pollution is an emerging environmental problem, due to its universal dispersion. In the present study, we determined the MP pollution in water, sediment, and fish samples of three different urban lakes of Bangladesh to assess the bioaccumulation of MPs from the lake environment to fish's edible (flesh) and inedible tissue (gut), ecological risk and consequent human exposure to MPs by fish consumption. A total of forty-three fishes were collected from Jahangirnagar Co-Operative Housing Society (JCHS), Dhanmondi Lake (DL), and Saturia Thana Lake (MST). The average MP concentration in sediment and water of the lakes is 7588 ± 4353 MPs/kg dry weights; 142 ± 22 MPs/L, respectively. MPs were identified in the edible (2.8-20.2 MPs/g) and inedible (2.27-20.93 MPs/g) tissue of all fish species. The highest number of MPs was observed in the flesh of Labeo bata of the JCHS Lake and in the gut of Catla catla of DL. The most dominant shape of MPs was fiber and fragment, 0.1-0.4 mm was the dominant size range, and blue, purple, and transparent were the dominant colors. The presence of six polymer types was revealed by FT-IR analysis, which were polystyrene, polypropylene, nitrile, ethylene vinyl acetate, high-density polyethylene, and nylon. The concentration of MPs in fish is found to increase with the increment in body weight. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) analysis reveals that among all the fish species, Labeo bata and Oreochromis mossambicus accumulate the highest number of MPs from the lake environment. The pollution load index of MPs indicates that the sampling sites were within hazard levels III-IV. Estimated annual intake reveals that humans will be exposed to the highest number of MPs if they consume the flesh of Labeo bata of DL and JCHS Lake.

Smart city design plan selection through single-valued neutrosophic probabilistic hesitant fuzzy rough aggregation information

One of the hottest areas for applying the solutions currently available is the internet of things-based smart housing society architecture and its uncertainty analysis. When intelligent parking, waste management, public transportation, public safety, and other automatic methods for housing society’s growth were implemented, it became even more crucial. An intelligent, smart system is necessary to manage these problems and provide smooth services. Additionally, it will be helpful in reducing issues with time waste and societal safety. However, the issue comes up when describing accurate, approximate, or questionable parking, transit, safety, and waste management areas. This paper discusses several mathematical solutions for the smart housing society that use fuzzy rough sets, probabilistic hesitant fuzzy sets, and their extensions with neutrosophic sets. For further growth, a few studies on the graphic display of the evolution of the smart housing society are also considered. The rough set theory can be useful when dealing with imprecise, incomplete, or indeterminate data sets. The core contribution of this work is the construction of a novel generalized notion of a single-valued neutrosophic probabilistic hesitant fuzzy rough set (SV-NPHFRS), which is a hybrid structure of the single-valued neutrosophic set, the probabilistic hesitant fuzzy set, and the rough set. In contrast to the present literature, the underlying idea of SV-NPHFRS is that it is a powerful mathematical tool for managing uncertainty and imperfect information. This method is particularly beneficial when there are a number of competing criteria to consider. The aggregation technique plays an important role in decision-making concerns, especially when more competing criteria are present. In the study’s comparison phase, the suggested decision support system is compared to relevant existing approaches. The results suggest that, in terms of choice flexibility, the suggested technique has the potential to outperform the drawbacks of the current decision-making tools. The proposed study is expected to be useful for a number of researchers conducting future work on housing societies, waste management, public safety diagnostics, and hybridization.

Smart Monitoring System for Housing Societies based on Deep Learning and IoT

Smart Monitoring System for Housing Societies based on Deep Learning and IoT

To What Extent Could Alternative Economic Models Increase Investment in the Renovation of and Reduce Energy Poverty in Social Housing in Flanders?

An important share of the social housing stock in Flanders is outdated, resulting in a high energy demand for heating. Energetic renovation is hence urgently needed. The current economic model, however, does not stimulate this due to a split incentive. As energy prices have increased in the past few years, more tenants have suffered from energy poverty. This paper investigates three alternative economic models aiming at increasing the incentive for renovation, while financially protecting the tenants. In the first alternative model, tenants are protected by inducing a maximal cost of living based on their income. In the second alternative model, a fixed rent is applied, while the third alternative model proposes to share the cost benefits of the energetic renovation. The paper analyses the alternative models by assessing the costs and income for social housing companies and the costs for tenants for an unrenovated building, a renovation with a low investment cost and a deep energetic renovation. The results show that limiting the cost of living based on income seems most interesting as this is beneficial for the tenants and gives an incentive for the social housing companies to renovate. To reduce energy poverty, a deep renovation is necessary.

The Reconsideration of IFRS Adoption and Audit Fees: Evidence from UK Private Firms

Synopsis The research problem This paper examined whether firms’ decision to switch from the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) to the new Generally Accepted Accounting Practice in the United Kingdom (New UK GAAP) affects their audit fees. Motivation The New UK GAAP was introduced by the UK regulators to enhance the comparability of financial reports and to reduce the high financial reporting costs associated with IFRS. We aimed to provide evidence on whether the reduced frameworks of IFRS, like the New UK GAAP, are a more cost-effective option. Furthermore, only very few studies analyzed the impact of abandoning IFRS on audit fees, and these found inconsistent results using the public firm data. We aimed to extend the current literature by using the private firm data. The test hypotheses Our first set of hypotheses considered whether the switch from IFRS to the New UK GAAP is associated with audit fees. Our second hypothesis tested whether there is a difference in any such association between larger and smaller firms. Target population We focused on the UK private (i.e., nonlisted) firms that have previously voluntarily adopted the IFRS. Adopted methodology We used regression analyses, difference-in-differences (DID) analyses, various matching methods for robustness, and analyses of firms’ financial reports. Analyses Using the UK private (i.e., nonlisted) firm data for the period 2014–2019, we examined the impact of switching from IFRS to the New UK GAAP on audit fees. The data for regression and DID analyses were obtained from the FAME database. We also downloaded the financial reports of two firms from Companies House to analyze the differences in their reports before and after the switch to the New UK GAAP. Findings We found that firms’ decision to switch from IFRS to the New UK GAAP significantly reduced their audit fees, with larger firms experiencing an additional reduction in their audit fees following the switch. Through examining the real examples of firms’ financial reports, we found consistent evidence that firms turning away from IFRS did take advantage of the disclosure exemptions contained within the New UK GAAP, resulting in reduced disclosure, which may explain the reduced audit fees. Overall, our findings suggest that using full IFRS may still be burdensome for the sampled firms that previously voluntarily adopted the IFRS. The findings also imply that an accounting standard consistent with IFRS but requiring less disclosure, such as the New UK GAAP or the IFRS for Small and Medium-sized Entities, may be welcomed by practitioners and represents a useful alternative for standard setters.

Embodied energy and carbon assessment of existing affordable apartments in Indonesia

ABSTRACT The Indonesian government is making a tremendous effort in the provision of affordable public apartments (Rusunawa) across the country. Rusunawa buildings were designed and built considering urban planning, environmental impact, architecture, strength, safety, health, comfort, and accessibility requirements. However, in terms of climate change mitigation, there is little analysis of the building type’s embodied energy and carbon emissions. In this study, we investigated the Rusunawa buildings built by the central government, local government, and state-owned housing company considering the typical layout of the existing Rusunawa to identify the building’s embodied energy and carbon emissions using the cradle to end of use boundary. Rusunawa documents were collected and selected based on the required bill of quantity and drawings to quantify the building materials. The impacts of typical building materials on the embodied energy and carbon emissions of the roof, exterior wall, and partition wall were identified. The results showed that the building’s structural systems influenced the resultant embodied energy and carbon footprints the most, followed by walls, roof, painting, ceiling, doors and windows, and flooring. Among these structural systems, the precast concrete had a lower impact than the conventional reinforced concrete on these footprints. Overall, the Rusunawa buildings had an average embodied energy of 3950 to 8766 MJ/m2 and an average embodied carbon emissions of 328 to 871 kgCO2/m2. In particular, Rusunawa clusters, 1BR2 and 2BR1 had the smallest embodied energy and carbon emissions for the one- and two-bedroom apartment types. A high-rise Rusunawa had the smallest embodied energy and carbon emissions per floor area compared to those of low- and mid-rise. Several embodied energy and carbon values were proposed to be the baselines for the future lower-carbon Rusunawa design. These results could be adopted and developed for the central government’s regulations and guidelines to determine the current energy intensity and carbon emission of the existing Rusunawa and also to verify the future Rusunawa design.

The process of value setting through co-design: the case of La Borda, Barcelona

ABSTRACT Against the increasing commodification of housing, a new kind of housing cooperatives has emerged in Catalonia in the last decade. These cooperatives fall within the wider concept of collaborative housing (CH), i.e. they are collectively self-organised projects based on a collaborative design process, or ‘co-design’. In such a process, residents need to adjust their individual expectations and demands in order to reach a collective set of values to realise their housing project. The aim of this paper is to assess how values are set through co-design and translated into a housing project. To do so, we develop an analytical framework to conduct a longitudinal single case-study that traces back the co-design process of the resident-led housing cooperative La Borda, in Barcelona. Our findings shed light on how co-design unfolds and uncover trade-offs carried out to overcome tensions mostly between individual and collective demands and between building costs and quality.

Investigating alternatives to privatization of public housing: an analysis based on the Quattro Corti project in Italy

After the long-lasting divestment in the Italian public housing system and the privatization of over 20% of the stock, many public dwellings are vacant or in substantial need of maintenance. The article aims at contributing to the literature that addresses the crisis of public housing, by investigating alternatives to its privatization in Italy, a context of heavy divestment and devolution. It draws on original material from the case study of the Quattro Corti project, an unprecedented form of hybrid collaboration between public housing providers and housing cooperatives for the regeneration and management a small portion of the public housing stock in Milan. We investigate the context at different scales (state, neighbourhood, building) and analyze the partnership through extended field work and interviews to stakeholders, tenants and managers. Finally we address opportunities and challenges for a wider implementation of such partnerships in Italy, as part of a strategy to prevent privatization.

Housing Financialization and the State, in and Beyond Southern Europe: A Conceptual and Operational Framework

ABSTRACT This article sets out a conceptual/operational framework designed to analyse how the state has enabled, promoted and shaped housing financialization. We build on the systematic analysis of literature and legislation in Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece, thereby providing an overview of housing financialization in Southern Europe. We identify six modes of housing financialization (mortgage debt, mortgage securitization, social rented housing, market rental housing, housing companies, “not-for-housing housing”), characterized by relative autonomy and specific mechanisms, plus a number of cross-cutting dimensions. Our conceptual/operational framework allows to systematically inquiry whether the state has passively adapted to global transformations or shaped these transformations in turn, therefore advancing two main contributions: first, contributing to a more precise conceptualization of the mechanisms of housing financialization; and, second, providing operational instruments to explore state action and policy in housing financialization beyond Southern Europe.

Living with Water

In East Libya in September 2023, two dams burst and flooded low-lying areas in Derna, killing thousands of people. The tragedy has given a painful twist to the idea of living with water and to the preface I was planning to write for this volume. Yes, water is the elixir of life, but water can also bring death and destruction, and the rapid pace of urbanization coupled with the growing uncertainty of climate change means that we must be sensitive to how we live with water. All our actions, whether remodelling riverfronts in the name of modernization, covering ancient water tanks or reclaiming coastal land for malls, flyovers, bridges and housing societies, will have consequences, especially for the poor and marginalized, whose lives are shaped by the intersection of land and water.

Nonprofit Landlord Types on the Housing Market—A Key to Rising Displacement in Berlin?

Displacement research emphasizes the importance of housing market processes and their consequences for tenants. In recent years, a lively discussion in housing studies has emerged around policy mechanisms to promote permanently decommodified housing and nonprofit landlord types. This article picks up on the two strands of research and links them to our own empirical material from two studies on the city of Berlin that respond to two questions: (a) What role do the different landlord types play in processes of displacement? and (b) To what extent are the management strategies of nonprofit landlords equipped to dampen displacement processes? Our results, which are based on quantitative and qualitative analyses, show that public housing companies, cooperatives, and novel shared homeownership models pose a significantly lower risk of displacement. Although these landlord types do not prevent displacement entirely, their property management strategies, their self-understanding, and their networks make it possible to identify housing policy levers to minimize displacement.

A Comparative Review of the Statutory Periodic Building Inspection Implementation in the Klang Valley Region, Malaysia and Hong Kong, China

Government response to building calamities using certain approaches depends on the types of building failures. Such approaches are the Periodic Building Inspection (PBI) in Malaysia and the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme (MBIS) in Hong Kong. Both statutory requirements are meant to maintain the safety and structural integrity of buildings, and MBIS is selected for comparison with PBI because of the many parallelisms between the applications of both laws. Since it was made a statutory requirement in 1994, studies have found that PBI implementation by various local authorities in the Klang Valley region, Malaysiawas insufficient. Comparing both statutory requirements offer insight and understanding into the compliance issues and solutions, therefore, benefiting the PBI from the proposed improvements. To achieve the aforementioned goal, the following objectives are proposed: a) To compare both statutory periodic building inspections; b) To identify gaps and best practices in both statutory periodic building inspections; and c) To propose improvements for PBI implementation. This research involves data gathering and comparative reviews of prior studies on PBI and MBIS. The study's outcomes suggest significant similarities in the challenges faced during the implementation of both statutory periodic inspections. These challenges encompass unclear legal procedures, insufficient government participation, and weak enforcement. Building owners in both localities also encounter hurdles related to financial limitations, gaining consensus from residents, and selecting suitable engineers. Hong Kong's targeted inspection using a risk-based approach prioritycan be emulated by local authorities in Malaysia.Hong Kong's approach of allowing other qualified professionals like registered architects and building surveyors to perform initial visual inspections could also be applied in Malaysia. KPKT should consider providing financial support to low cost building owners, similar to the initiatives of the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) and Urban Renewal Authority (URA). Local authorities and KPKT need to refine their service delivery through improved inter-departmental collaboration and heightened engagement with building owners. Revisions to Act 133, mirroring enforcement methods in Hong Kong, would be beneficial. Additionally, efforts should be made to raise public awareness about the significance of conducting PBI.