In recent years a research project sponsored by the United Nations and World Bank has begun collecting and analyzing basic quantitative measures of housing market conditions in some 51 countries. Examples of such indicators include housing prices and rents in relation to incomes, the share of national income invested in residential real estate, and several measures of the regulatory environment for residential development. The purpose of this special issue is to contribute to the development and analysis of such indicators and advance comparative research.
This special issue of Real Estate Economics is being underwritten by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a U.S. contribution to the United Nations' Habitat II Conference being held in Istanbul in June 1996. The editors are particularly seeking original research (methodological or empirical) that:
Presents and analyzes basic housing and urban development indicators, which can be analyzed over time, analyzed cross-sectionally, or both. Papers that focus on U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) will be especially useful.
Contains methodological contributions, including theoretical and empirical evaluations of alternative indicators and requirements for improved indicators.
Models the determinants of indicators across metropolitan areas and/or over time, within MSAs (where appropriate), and across countries (where appropriate).
Discusses the links between indicators, analysis of the indicators, and urban policy development.
Indicator categories include background data, socioeconomic development, local government, housing affordability and adequacy, housing provision, infrastructure, transportation, and environmental management. Papers focusing on the first five categories are being especially encouraged. All papers will undergo the normal refereeing process. Authors should include a data appendix with their relevant indicators, in printed and spreadsheet form.
To encourage submission of high-quality papers, HUD has agreed to finance a nominal honorarium of $1,000 for each accepted paper. Papers are due by November 30, 1995, but the editors would be pleased to hear from prospective authors prior to submission. Upon request, the guest editors will send prospective authors a package of papers describing the Habitat/World Bank Indicators Project to date, the forthcoming Istanbul conference, and a dataset containing preliminary international indicators.
Please address manuscripts and/or requests for further information about this project to:
Stephen Malpezzi and Stephen K. Mayo, Guest Editors
c/o Department of Real Estate and Urban Land Economics
