Summary

Housing is a source of wealth accumulation, intergenerational transfers, and social mobility, and is vital not only to promoting prosperity and welfare, but also to reshaping inequality within and across generations. In Southern Europe, housing has a high cultural value, and the family plays a key role in housing tenure. The increasing housing wealth affects future housing opportunities for families and generations and will also impact the welfare state. In addition, housing is an important asset for future elderly and pensioners.

However, there has been little research into how reduced housing access, aggravated by the recent COVID crisis, affects different generations and welfare, notably in Southern Europe. Despite the very limited literature on Generation Z, anyone born since 1997 seems to be considered the generation of hope. Growing up in a recession, many in single parent families, facing economic uncertainty, a housing crisis, and now COVID-19, this digital generation makes security a top priority. Notwithstanding the differences between Generation Z and Millennials and the important implications for housing, no research has been conducted in this field.

The exploratory project Housing4Z will answer four main research questions:

  1. How is housing reshaping intergenerational inequalities, and how will it affect young generations in particular?

  2. How do changes in the housing system affect inequality and intergenerational welfare?

  3. What are Generation Z’s experiences in terms of preferences, constraints, opportunities, and deprivation?

  4. What recommendations should be implemented to mitigate new intergenerational housing inequalities?

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