The Evolution of Ideas About the Relationship Between Housing and Economic Development: Ghanaian Policy in an International Context, 1945-2000

Abstract

<p>The significance of housing as a tool of economIC development is often underestimated. Whereas many policy-makers, economic development analysts, and international agencies have for a long time recognized the social importance of housing, few have typically recognized the utility of the sector in promoting and achieving economic development goals. And yet, the housing sector is a major force in the process of economic development. Investment in housing activities generates employment and income. Good housing helps raise output of labour and thereby expand productivity. An effective housing finance system also contributes to savings and to mobilization of financial resources in any economy.</p> <p>The nature of these effects, and allocation of resources to the sector, have been debated by academics, international agencies, and national policy-makers since the mid- 1940s. The views expressed on the subject have evolved and changed to reflect shifts in development theory, in values, and in the global economic environment. However, little research has been conducted to systematically trace the relationship between housing policy and economic development within a historical context. Through a study of international agencies - namely, the United Nations and the World Bank - and a case study of Ghana, the current study addresses this neglect.</p> <p>The study draws on a wide range of sources. The principal sources of data used for international agencies include published and unpublished working papers, annual reports, and development reports. The case study of Ghana is based on key policy documents, newspaper articles, legislative debates, and interviews with selected public officials and private individuals. Overall, the research demonstrates that the ways in which housing is conceptualized in the development process have changed significantly over the past five decades. Nevertheless, the research also shows a number of discrepancies between rhetoric and practical actions, especially discrepancies pertaining to allocation of investment resources.</p>