Needs-Tested and Market-Based Social Rented Housing: The Extreme Case of Norway?

In this article we introduce an ideal type we call “needs-tested and market-based social rented housing (SRH)” which is fleshed out and compared to the complex empirical reality of the Norwegian SRH sector. The ideal type may arguably serve as a useful theoretical point of reference both in case stu...

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Main Authors: Jardar Sørvoll, Siri Myrold Osnes, Ingar Brattbakk
Format: Article
Language:Norwegian
Published: Scandinavian University Press 2024-08-01
Series:Tidsskrift for boligforskning
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.idunn.no/doi/10.18261/tfb.7.1.7
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author Jardar Sørvoll
Siri Myrold Osnes
Ingar Brattbakk
author_facet Jardar Sørvoll
Siri Myrold Osnes
Ingar Brattbakk
author_sort Jardar Sørvoll
collection DOAJ
description In this article we introduce an ideal type we call “needs-tested and market-based social rented housing (SRH)” which is fleshed out and compared to the complex empirical reality of the Norwegian SRH sector. The ideal type may arguably serve as a useful theoretical point of reference both in case studies and in comparative research, and is inspired by the literature on housing regimes, pro-market housing policies, as well as the empirical example of Norwegian SRH. In our contribution to the special issue, we discuss how and to what degree the Norwegian case deviates from the defining features and internal logic of the ideal type, drawing on comprehensive empirical evidence. We also ponder to what extent the policy challenges plausibly associated with the ideal type are evident in Norwegian SRH. In our conclusion, we argue that, as expected, Norwegian SRH in urban areas matches well with the ideal type since it is highly needs-tested and directed at the most disadvantaged households for a limited period. Nonetheless, geographical variation, urban-rural differences, third-generation rent controls, institutional divergence, and discretionary exceptions mean that there is a far from perfect fit between empirical reality and theoretical ideal type. We also argue that many of the policy challenges plausibly associated with the ideal type, such as NIMBYism, housing shortages and complex needs assessments, are present in Norwegian SRH. Increased provision of social housing could probably mitigate at least some of the challenges discussed in the paper, or so we argue in our concluding reflections. However, significant state investment would require a major policy shift from the Norwegian government – a government that, despite access to black gold from the North Sea, has been reluctant to spend heavily in the SRH sector.
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spelling doaj-art-ce9dc8fb14f24c6f9bf7a30bc6c7c85f2025-08-20T03:25:08ZnorScandinavian University PressTidsskrift for boligforskning2535-59882024-08-01718410410.18261/tfb.7.1.7Needs-Tested and Market-Based Social Rented Housing: The Extreme Case of Norway?Jardar Sørvoll0Siri Myrold Osnes1Ingar Brattbakk2Norwegian Social Research (NOVA), Oslo Metropolitan University.Norwegian Social Research (NOVA), Oslo Metropolitan University.Work Research Institute (AFI), Oslo Metropolitan UniversityIn this article we introduce an ideal type we call “needs-tested and market-based social rented housing (SRH)” which is fleshed out and compared to the complex empirical reality of the Norwegian SRH sector. The ideal type may arguably serve as a useful theoretical point of reference both in case studies and in comparative research, and is inspired by the literature on housing regimes, pro-market housing policies, as well as the empirical example of Norwegian SRH. In our contribution to the special issue, we discuss how and to what degree the Norwegian case deviates from the defining features and internal logic of the ideal type, drawing on comprehensive empirical evidence. We also ponder to what extent the policy challenges plausibly associated with the ideal type are evident in Norwegian SRH. In our conclusion, we argue that, as expected, Norwegian SRH in urban areas matches well with the ideal type since it is highly needs-tested and directed at the most disadvantaged households for a limited period. Nonetheless, geographical variation, urban-rural differences, third-generation rent controls, institutional divergence, and discretionary exceptions mean that there is a far from perfect fit between empirical reality and theoretical ideal type. We also argue that many of the policy challenges plausibly associated with the ideal type, such as NIMBYism, housing shortages and complex needs assessments, are present in Norwegian SRH. Increased provision of social housing could probably mitigate at least some of the challenges discussed in the paper, or so we argue in our concluding reflections. However, significant state investment would require a major policy shift from the Norwegian government – a government that, despite access to black gold from the North Sea, has been reluctant to spend heavily in the SRH sector.https://www.idunn.no/doi/10.18261/tfb.7.1.7ideal typeneeds-testingNorwaysocial rented housing
spellingShingle Jardar Sørvoll
Siri Myrold Osnes
Ingar Brattbakk
Needs-Tested and Market-Based Social Rented Housing: The Extreme Case of Norway?
Tidsskrift for boligforskning
ideal type
needs-testing
Norway
social rented housing
title Needs-Tested and Market-Based Social Rented Housing: The Extreme Case of Norway?
title_full Needs-Tested and Market-Based Social Rented Housing: The Extreme Case of Norway?
title_fullStr Needs-Tested and Market-Based Social Rented Housing: The Extreme Case of Norway?
title_full_unstemmed Needs-Tested and Market-Based Social Rented Housing: The Extreme Case of Norway?
title_short Needs-Tested and Market-Based Social Rented Housing: The Extreme Case of Norway?
title_sort needs tested and market based social rented housing the extreme case of norway
topic ideal type
needs-testing
Norway
social rented housing
url https://www.idunn.no/doi/10.18261/tfb.7.1.7
work_keys_str_mv AT jardarsørvoll needstestedandmarketbasedsocialrentedhousingtheextremecaseofnorway
AT sirimyroldosnes needstestedandmarketbasedsocialrentedhousingtheextremecaseofnorway
AT ingarbrattbakk needstestedandmarketbasedsocialrentedhousingtheextremecaseofnorway