Research by Author & Topic

Publications by Clare Romanik on Housing and Land Markets

This analysis compares the housing-utility burden of Russian households under the current (1996) subsidized rate scheme with the burden they would experience under a full cost recovery scheme. Special attention is given to the relative impact of the new scheme on households in different expenditure categories and on households living in urban and rural areas. This report finds that if a full cost recovery scheme were implemented, an estimated 54% of households would have serious difficulties meeting the costs. However, the study finds that even after setting aside funds for housing allowances to assist these households, the municipalities' revenues from the full-cost scheme will outweigh their expenditures.

This report contains findings from a housing survey conducted in Panama during the fall of 1995. The objective of the survey was to learn more about the demand for housing among the low- and middle-income urban population that is not well served by public sector housing programs. Focusing on the underserved population provides insights into the behavior of households engaging in market transactions that are relatively uninfluenced by public assistance. The information in this report provides a valuable resource for those who wish to design policies to assist low- and middle-income households in Panama and elsewhere.

[© Review of Urban and Regional Development Studies] Under the dwelling purchase certificate program a retired or demobilized Russian officer returning from the "near abroad" is given a certificate which he can use to purchase a new housing unit in the market. The certificate is priced at estimated market price of dwellings, and prices vary by unit size and location (region). There was great uncertainty when the program was launched as to whether officers would find units available for purchase. In fact, most officers succeeded in using their certificate and most contacted several sellers in searching for housing.