Why do some countries succeed in providing adequate and affordable housing to their populations while others perpetually fail at this seemingly fundamental government function? This course explores how different national, regional, state/provincial, and local governments around the world develop, fund, and implement policies to supply housing to their citizens. Students will critically evaluate selected public and privately approaches to housing development in North America, Europe, East and South Asia, Africa, and Latin America since 1945, and seek to identify common factors leading to their relative successes or failures. Students will then draw upon this analysis to develop housing policy recommendations for consideration by government jurisdictions of their choosing.
3 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit · GER: WAY-SI
Why do some countries succeed in providing adequate and affordable housing to their populations while others perpetually fail at this seemingly fundamental government function? This course explores how different national, regional, state/provincial, and local governments around the world develop, fund, and implement policies to supply housing to their citizens. Students will critically evaluate selected public and privately approaches to housing development in North America, Europe, East and South Asia, Africa, and Latin America since 1945, and seek to identify common factors leading to their relative successes or failures. Students will then draw upon this analysis to develop housing policy recommendations for consideration by government jurisdictions of their choosing.
Offered in Autumn 2026 at Stanford University.