The UK housing system is in crisis. In 2021, 8.5 million people had unmet housing needs on account of affordability, accessibility and quality. While the Labour Government have placed emphasis on liberating private builders from red tape to build, evidence suggests a much more coordinated and ambitious state-led approach may be necessary. It is unclear, though, whether this is electorally feasible. We report qualitative and quantitative survey-based evidence (survey 1 n = 693; 2 n = 10; 3 n = 2,200), including adversarial co-production and evaluation of narratives, on drivers of support for an illustrative policy programme in the run up to the 2024 General Election. This unique examination of public preferences on housing finds high levels of support for an expansive programme of reform comparable to the post-War era. We find that higher risk of destitution, low socioeconomic status and lower health status predict higher levels of support and that adversarially co-produced narratives increase levels of support, particularly among firm opponents of the policy. We analyse these associations through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to identify pathways of impact and find moderately strong positive correlations with levels of support for tax and spend. These findings have clear implications for UK Government housing policy.

Macao faces a critical demographic challenge with the world’s lowest total fertility rate (TFR) of 0.582 in 2024. This threatens its long-term economic and social stability. This study investigates the multifaceted causes of Macao’s ultra-low fertility, relying on systematic data from 2001–2024, international comparisons, and a thorough policy assessment. Employing a mixed-methods approach, we identify key factors including prohibitive housing costs (9.1/10), significant education expenses (8.6/10), and persistent gender role conflicts. Findings reveal a distinct four-phase fertility decline, positioning Macao below South Korea (0.750). This demographic transition has led Macao to become an aged society, with its elderly population (14.5%) now exceeding the child population (12.5%). Despite these trends, current policies demonstrate limited effectiveness. The study proposes a comprehensive six-pillar policy framework emphasizing housing reform, childcare expansion, work-life balance, financial support, gender equality, and long-term monitoring. Implementation is structured across three phases (2025-2035) to stabilize the TFR, foster recovery to 1.0, and eventually approach the replacement level. This research provides the first systematic analysis of an extreme fertility case and offers evidence-based policy recommendations for small economies facing similar challenges.

There is a crisis of poverty and ill health that is affecting higher education students which is likely to continue for many years. This research thematically analysed qualitative data collected via semi-structured interviews and focus groups from professional services staff, academic staff, and students (n=34) from one Higher Education Institution in England. This research reveals the ‘pressures’ that widening participation, first generation and commuter students in England are experiencing post-covid. Themes of; mental health and wellbeing, cost-of-living, academic pressures, perceived lack of future, and strong relationships were identified. The recommendations align to macro improvements to health services, economy, student funding, student housing reform and transport. Meso university responsibilities such as financial hardship, and personal tutoring systems. Micro course level strategies such as improved personal tutoring systems based on trusting relationships that considerably ease pressure for students. These results provide insight for government policy makers, universities nationally or internationally and students.

Purpose Countries all over the world are faced with housing affordability and provision issues. However, despite these issues being consistently flagged in global and regional policy forums, there remains a lack of knowledge around the financialization of the housing sector, and the consequences of reforms undertaken to address the housing crisis. In this paper, we contribute to the literature by examining Indigenous accounting(s) within informal settlements in Fiji. Design/methodology/approach We conceptualize Indigenous accounting as Indigenous social practices that seek to account for economic relationships, in this case, the accounting for rent within informal settlements by both tenants and landlords. This case study draws on data collected from public documents, semi-structured interviews with civil servants and tenants, and talanoa with Indigenous landlords and tenants to uncover Indigenous alternatives to accounting for housing. Findings We show that Indigenous accounting(s) within informal settlements is ritualized and steeped within the Indigenous value systems of Indigenous Fijians. Analyzing the accounting practices within these informal settlements, we situate Indigenous accounting as a duality: providing both a key site of Indigenous resistance to neoliberal reforms to housing policy, and a site for alternatives beyond capitalism. Originality/value The intersection of accounting literature and housing has generally been studied in developed or “minority” economies. These studies have brought attention to the financialization of the housing sector and how it is a consequence of neoliberal housing reforms. This case study extends the accounting literature by examining the contextualized practices in a developing or “majority” setting.

Abstract There exists a political tradition that views research as a transformative tool that empowers people to diagnose their own realities and enact change. Drawing on the legacy of militant research, this paper examines its role in shaping and influencing public policy, identifying two distinct frameworks: Action‐to‐Reform, which focuses on leveraging grassroots knowledge to achieve systemic reforms, and Reform‐to‐Action, which integrates public–community collaboration into governance practices. The analysis centres on two case studies in Barcelona in which the authors were actively involved: the Tenant Survey, which exemplifies Action‐to‐Reform by enhancing grassroots organisation to advocate for structural housing reforms, and the Citizen Asset Programme, a case of Reform‐to‐Action that institutionalises public–community collaborations to promote urban commons. This paper highlights the transformative potential of knowledge production embedded in collective action, the contrasting strategies these frameworks adopt in engaging with the state, and the tensions and dilemmas they entail. Connecting these case studies to seminal and contemporary literature on militant research, this work contributes to debates on how autonomous knowledge production can simultaneously challenge dominant paradigms and foster institutional change.

Background: Health equity remains an enduring global challenge, with social determinants of health (SDOH)—such as income, education, housing, and employment—playing a pivotal role in shaping health outcomes. Despite advances in healthcare interventions, systemic inequities persist worldwide. Policy reforms targeting these determinants are increasingly recognized as critical to reducing disparities and achieving sustainable health improvements. Objective: This systematic review aimed to synthesize and critically evaluate global policy reforms addressing SDOH and promoting health equity across diverse populations. Methods: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across five academic databases and relevant grey literature sources between January and March 2024. Out of 243 initially identified studies, 43 met the inclusion criteria following title/abstract screening and full-text review. Eligibility required: (i) national or subnational policy reforms targeting SDOH, (ii) explicit evaluation of health equity outcomes, and (iii) publication in English from 2010 to 2024. Key data on policy type, targeted determinants, equity outcomes, and evaluation methods were systematically extracted and thematically analyzed using established frameworks. Results: The included studies represented reforms from six global regions, with a majority based in high-income countries but notable examples from low- and middle-income settings. Successful policies shared common features: multisectoral collaboration, equity-centered design, community engagement, and robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks. Policy types encompassed universal healthcare, conditional cash transfers, education, and housing reforms. Common equity indicators included income, geographic location, race/ethnicity, and gender. Among the studies included, 70% reported quantifiable improvements in equity outcomes, while 30% lacked rigorous evaluation frameworks, limiting assessment of long-term impact. Conclusion: Policy reforms addressing upstream SDOH are essential for advancing health equity. Integrating equity considerations across all sectors, fostering intersectoral governance, and investing in robust monitoring systems offer promising pathways to reduce health disparities globally. However, persistent gaps in evaluation, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, highlight the need for sustained research and investment in comprehensive policy assessment.

ABSTRACT The politics of reforms has conventionally been centred on elite strategy, regime type, state capacity, and civic engagement, which often treats social relationships as embedded property rather than an independent variable that drives collective action and incrementally conditions reforms. This paper shifts the lens to social capital as a key driver of local governance reform. It inquires: How do social relationships shape institutions amidst persistent patronage politics? Why does civic power decline and later resurge in societies? This study builds on social capital theory to examine the linkages causing stagnation and facilitating innovations at the local level. Cagayan de Oro City in Southern Philippines, offers a compelling case of how civic networks, once sidelined in local governance, regained their voices and contributed to transforming a dysfunctional housing institution into a collaborative housing model despite entrenched patronage politics. Drawing from interviews and archival data, I argue that meaningful reforms emerge when political leaders are willing to share power, CSOs maintain their autonomy and consistently hold officials accountable, and middle managers act effectively as equilibrators. When social capital is pragmatically leveraged, it becomes a powerful antidote to patronage politics, enabling change agents to build transformative institutions collectively.

Abstract This research proposes a novel approach to assess management measures in large‐scale residential facilities using resident‐exclusive Social Networking Services (SNS) data. The study develops a three‐domain model (“User‐Subjective‐Objective”) adapted from Wada's “Value‐Function‐Activity‐Entity” model to analyze resident interactions and behaviors within the SNS environment (M. Wada, 2021). The methodology consists of three main components: modeling the resident exclusive SNS (S. Tsugawa, 2020), clustering users based on their browsing behaviors (Y. Yamaguchi, S. Yamamoto and T. Sato, 2013) and developing a framework for quantitatively assessing management measures. The study employs Hierarchical Clustering Analysis to group users based on their temporal browsing patterns and introduces a method to evaluate management measures through “degree of interest fulfillment.” The research applies this methodology to a case study in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, analyzing SNS data from 495 users over a one‐year period, complemented by survey responses from 78 residents. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach in identifying distinct user clusters and evaluating different management measures, such as “House Reform” and “Mix Bazaar” initiatives. The findings highlight the value of integrating SNS data analysis into residential facility management (A. Kobayashi, et al., 2022), offering a more dynamic and responsive approach to understanding resident needs and evaluating management strategies' effectiveness.

Women’s unpaid work, including housework, care and social work, despite being of great value in terms of social services, remains largely invisible in traditional economic symbols. This article explores the important role of unpaid work in economic and social empowerment, particularly in developing countries where women are not associated with the invisible workload. Using qualitative and quantitative data, the study investigates the economic consequences of unpaid work and its impact on the country’s gross domestic product, economic activity copies and gender inequality. Drawing on research and recent studies, the article highlights the need to recognise and integrate unpaid work into the financial system. It calls for policy interventions that recognise women’s unpaid contributions, and calls for measures such as time-consuming research, social protection programmes and housing reforms to close the gap between paid and unpaid. Recognizing unpaid work not only encourages greater economic participation, but also promotes gender equality and social justice.

Abstract It’s long been easier to set up a company in the UK than it is to open a bank account. That convenience has turned us into a magnet for fraudsters, shell companies and money laundering schemes. Now, finally, the door is starting to close. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 is about to overhaul one of the most porous systems in Europe. At its heart is mandatory identity verification for company directors and people with significant control. No more hiding behind nominee directors or fictitious names. You’ll need to prove who you are before you get past the starting line. That’s a seismic shift. But with added scrutiny comes added complexity – especially for firms used to handling company secretarial filings in-house. Enter Authorised Corporate Service Providers. ACSPs like ProSec are now stepping into the space, handling verification and filings on behalf of law firms and their clients. What was once a light admin task is fast becoming a regulated process that requires precision, expertise and trust. These changes will reshape the market. Some firms may struggle with the increased compliance burden, while others may see this as an opportunity to specialise and grow. This reform isn’t just welcome – it’s essential. But success depends on more than legislation. We need clear guidance, proper enforcement and reliable partners to keep the system clean. Here ProSec CEO Max Gower explains some of the key changes brought about by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, and the implications of it for those working in the corporate space.

ABSTRACT The first Nordisk Byggnadsdag (Nordic Building Day) held in Stockholm in 1927 was a pivotal event, though of Nordic resonance, in the 1920s reformation of Nordic mass housing. The paper investigates its organization and contents focusing on two significant speeches: the Danish architect Kay Fisker’s ‘Københavnske boligtyper’ (Copenhagen housing types) and the Swedish architect Sven Wallander’s ‘Inredning av smålägenheter’ (Interior design of small dwellings). The two presentations’ comparison paves the way for a deeper contextualization of early twentieth-century Danish and Swedish housing reforms. Despite differing approaches, they shared a keen commitment to addressing urban and typological challenges. Their contributions underscore diversity of architectural responses from pragmatic solutions to innovative urban transformations. To sustain this contextual analysis, the paper includes morpho-typological examinations of four housing projects: Fisker’s Jagtgaarden (1924–1925) and Gullfosshus (1927), both in Copenhagen, S. E. Lundqvist’s Draget block (1922–1924) in Blecksområdet, and Wallander’s Metern block (1926–1927) in Helgalunden, both in Stockholm. These cases – three of which were showcased at the Nordic Building Day – exemplify how proto-modern ideals shaped the perimeter blocks’ reformation (karrébebyggelser in Danish and storgårdskvarter in Swedish) and played a crucial role in redefining the urban fabric in ways which led to social innovations.

ABSTRACT The accelerated urbanisation of early twentieth-century China gave rise to a series of housing issues. The introduction of ‘Xin Cun Zhuyi’ (New Villagism) inspired the New Village Construction Plan, aimed at improving the living conditions of the urban populace. By combining literature analysis with historical archival research, this study reconstructs the proposal and implementation of early twentieth century Shanghai’s New Village Plan. Focusing on the case of the Qiangweiyuan Xin Cun (Rose New Village), the paper examines the exploration of new residential forms, living environments, and civilised communities. The findings reveal that the aim of New Villages was to establish a social space characterised by autonomy, equality, and mutual assistance, alongside a residential environment that was aesthetically pleasing, hygienic, and comfortable. However, the funding model, target buyers, pricing standards, and housing design of the Rose New Village were, to some extent, misaligned with the social realities of the time. As a result, the project deviated from its original welfare-oriented objectives. While it failed to achieve deeper goals such as municipal reform, urban self-governance, and the establishment of a modern democratic state, its development process offers valuable insights into the housing reform efforts in early twentieth-century urban China.

This article considers the theme of industriousness in Australian post-war housing reform and urban planning. In the mid-twentieth century, state and federal policymakers sought to develop industrial policies to develop a productive domestic manufacturing sector in the countryside and urban outer suburbs. Urban planners played a significant role in these policies, designing industrial towns, which married housing with industry, and slum abolition schemes, which intended to recapture a ‘slum-minded’ labour force lost to the inner city. Through a re-reading of government papers, urban planning publications and housing commission reports published in the 1930s and 1940s, this article traces the theme of industriousness in housing reform and urban planning, and makes a claim for its importance as a concern in this history.

BackgroundThe total fertility rate in China has been dropping in recent years, and this continuing trend has led to a series of problems. China has experienced periods of urbanization and housing reforms, leading to a significant boom in the real estate market. Housing status appears to be an essential factor influencing the fertility-related decisions of residents in China.MethodsWe use cross-sectional data from a nationally representative large-scale tracking survey targeting the labor force in China. The research sample for this study comprised data from Chinese adults between the ages of 20 and 45. We highlight the importance of housing mortgages on fertility intention based on the Poisson regression model.ResultsData was collected from a total of 7,512 inhabitants. The results show the following: 1) Housing status is closely related to fertility intention, while housing mortgage and water contamination are negatively affected. 2) The urban built environment, social environment, and individual characteristics affecting fertility intention mainly occur in urbanization rate, green coverage rate in urban built-up areas (GCR), life satisfaction, mental health, age, gender, marital status, political status, and education status. Urbanization rate, GCR, life satisfaction, and mental health positively influence resident’s fertility intention, whereas women and single show lower fertility intention. 3) In particular, there are significant regional differences in the mechanism of fertility intention. Such intention in the eastern and central regions is primarily related to housing mortgages, urban built environment, the degree of contamination in the habitat, and socioeconomic factors, while the intention in the northeastern region is related to soil contamination. Fertility intention in the western and northeastern region are strongly related to mental health.

Hunger strikes are a common occurrence in carceral settings accompanied by serious health risks and intensive health care utilization. A 2017 study on hunger strikes within the New Jersey Department of Corrections found these events most often occurred in a disciplinary setting. We undertook this study after a new state law, the Isolated Confinement Restriction Act (ICRA), improved conditions of confinement in part by reducing the utilization, nature, and duration of disciplinary housing. We hypothesized that ICRA would reduce the frequency of hunger strikes. Although the frequency of strikes was unchanged, the mean hunger strike duration declined from 28.9 days to 9.7 days (p = .034). The typical strike was modestly briefer, with the median duration before ICRA being four days and after being three days. The rate of hunger strikes greater than three days declined (from 60.3% to 45.2%; p = .049). There was no difference in the rate of hunger striking in disciplinary housing before or after ICRA. Although hunger strikes remain a frequently used method of protest for incarcerated persons, reform to the conditions of confinement was associated with reducing the health-related dangers and associated health care costs of these phenomena and arguably was a factor in this reduction.

The present article: - “Legal Provision of the Dilapidated House Replacement Project” discusses the ongoing housing reform in Georgia, within the framework of which the replacement of dilapidated residential buildings was carried out in two self-governing cities. Despite the fact that the concept of the implementation of the program is different from each other, the common goal is to effectively implement the replacement of dilapidated houses in the country. The article discusses the general procedure for replacing dilapidated multiapartment residential buildings, the model of private and public cooperation for the dilapidated multi-apartment residential building replacement project, legal aspects, the program implemented by the Batumi Self-Governing City, criminal, civil and administrative-legal issues in the construction sector and recommendations. At the end of the article, the conclusion systematizes important issues related to the dilapidated multi-apartment residential building replacement project and formulates the authors' recommendations.

The scientific research article "Contemporary Challenges of the Social Housing Fund and its Legal Regulation" discusses the implemented housing reform using the example of Georgia, a country in the post-Soviet space. Within this context, concrete and effective steps have already been taken to replace the dilapidated residential houses inherited from the Soviet era. The reform presents an opportunity to create a necessary social housing fund for various vulnerable groups in the country. The article focuses on several key areas: a historical overview of the allocation of the housing fund, modern challenges, peculiarities of the municipal housing policy, an assessment of the need for the social housing fund, and a review of international experiences in its renewal. At the end of the article, the relevant aspects of the project to replace dilapidated multi-apartment residential houses are summarized as an important basis for creating a housing fund. The conclusion presents significant recommendations for effectively addressing the above-mentioned issues.

ABSTRACT: After decades of relative stagnation, American housing policy is now several years into a period of radical change and experimentation. In California, where I am policy director for the state-level organization California YIMBY (Yes in My Backyard), city planners will often gripe (with, I have to admit, some justification) that state housing law is changing too quickly for them to keep up. Several other states—including Washington, Montana, Colorado, Arizona, Florida, and Rhode Island—have enacted their own ambitious housing reforms, with more following each year. Cities like Minneapolis, Sacramento, Austin, and Spokane have redrawn their zoning maps and removed non-zoning barriers to housing production such as minimum parking requirements; meanwhile, New York City is moving ahead with its prohousing “City of Yes” plan, though its ultimate fate remains uncertain.

Abstract. The aim of this study is to expand the range of existing knowledge regarding the methods of implementation of housing policy during the tenure of N.S. Khrushchev as the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) from 1953 to 1964. The information obtained contributes to a deeper understanding of the process of implementing housing reform in one of the largest agglomerations of the country – Leningrad. The housing policy of the Soviet power during this period can be regarded as a peculiar reflection of the social policies of the CPSU and the reformist activities of its leadership. Its main task was to provide the Soviet people, albeit inexpensive, but nevertheless, free and relatively comfortable housing. Despite the fact that the housing program of the Soviet power primarily focused on large cities and industrial centers, it significantly alleviated the acute housing problem both nationwide and within the cultural capital of the Soviet Union. The main goal of this research is to study the models and methods of addressing the housing issue proposed by the First Secretary of the CPSU, which found practical embodiment in the city on the Neva River.

ABSTRACT The Finnish Housing Reform Association was set up in 1910 to promote public housing with new social ideas in housing design. After World War I, the association took the initiative to design affordable housing for the district of Käpylä in Helsinki. Construction was postponed by the years of instability that followed the Civil War of spring 1918. In early 1920, the City of Helsinki organised the subscription of shares in the People's Housing Company Ltd. Four– or two–family houses and even dwellings consisting of a room and a kitchen were a huge improvement to rental barracks. The quality of housing further enhanced by garden plots and communal saunas. Construction of the district resulted in notable stylistic variety. The scale of the area and the new efficient timber construction system that aimed at affordability and short construction times made Wooden Käpylä exceptional. In 1960, a design competition was organised that, had it gone ahead, would have meant the destruction of the Käpylä. The competition drew sharp criticism, and in 1971 Wooden Käpylä became protected in the master plan. Today, the street plan offers surprising views and a sense of freedom relative to previous as well as concurrent enclosed blocks.