Housing Status in Post-Soviet Contexts: A Multi-dimensional Measurement Approach

Abstract

This study draws on a novel survey in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Ukraine to develop a framework for conceptualizing and measuring housing status, a multi-dimensional construct reflecting positions in a housing stratification order. We employ structural equation modeling to confirm whether our measures reflect distinct dimensions of housing status. We validate our measurement approach by testing for distinct dimensional effects on subjective housing wellbeing. Our novel measures of housing tenure, quantity, quality, and wellbeing reflect post-Soviet intra-household differences in property rights; the cultural premium placed on having a room of one's own; constellations of amenities and comforts comprising quality; and the significance of a sense of autonomy for subjective housing wellbeing. Results demonstrate that the three dimensions of housing status-tenure, quality, and quantity-exert independent effects on subjective housing wellbeing, with consistent effects across the four study countries. Our systematic attention to measurement of housing status in post-Soviet conditions models an approach that scholars could adapt for other contexts, including but not limited to other post-communist societies.

The Variable Disadvantage of Nonstandard Employment for Entering Homeownership in Russia and Urban China: The Potential Role of Mortgage Prevalence

“…Cross-sectional homeownership percentages and rates of entry into homeownership in 2006-2017 illustrate the high rates of household homeownership in both Russia and urban China, averaging over 84% throughout (Figure 2), which are fully consistent with patterns observed in other studies (Walder and He 2014;Zavisca et al 2021). The average rate of entry between waves into homeownership in urban China exceeded 45%, whereas in Russia (with shorter periods between waves) it was around 35%.…”

“…Housing shortages persist, and the Russian government does not provide affordable renting or subsidized housing for vulnerable groups (UNECE 2004). Lacking access to mortgages or government assistance, Russians often acquire homes through intra-family inheritance, loans from friends and relatives, and transfers, with employment status accounting for little variation in housing status (Zavisca et al 2021). A hybrid homeownership system thus prevails in post-soviet Russia, where more homes are acquired via non-market transfers than the market, despite gradual growth in the latter (Gerber et al 2020).…”

“…Our dependent variable is entry into homeownership by the household between survey waves. This approach ignores withinhousehold variation in property rights, which can affect housing satisfaction (Zavisca et al 2021). However, it is typical for studies of housing inequality (e.g., Song and Xie 2014;Walder and He 2014), and by focusing attention on the main provider's circumstances we preserve our conceptual emphasis on the effects of NSE, which would be muddied were we to introduce intrahousehold dynamics by examining individual ownership.…”

Housing and integration of internally displaced persons: The case of Ukraine in 2018

“…In sum, housing is a necessary (but not sufficient) resource for full societal integration of IDPs. This is especially true in societies where the social contract is predicated on having secure housing, as is the case in many post-Soviet countries (Zavisca, 2012;Zavisca et al, 2021).…”

“…Ukraine's housing system: A post-Soviet homeownership society Ukraine and other post-Soviet countries have among the highest homeownership rates in the world, largely without mortgages (Schwartz and Seabrooke, 2008;Mandič, 2010;Stephens et al, 2015). As of 2015, 90% of Ukrainian adults lived in owneroccupied homes (Zavisca et al, 2021). This is a result of Soviet housing policy and mass post-Soviet privatization.…”