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Neoliberalization of housing in Sweden: gentrification, filtering and social polarization

Hedin, Karin LU ; Clark, Eric LU ; Lundholm, Emma and Malmberg, Gunnar (2012) In Annals of the Association of American Geographers 102(2). p.443-463
Abstract
During the last twenty-five years, housing policy in Sweden has radically changed.

Once forming a pillar of the comprehensive welfare system, abbreviated ‘the Swedish model’,

neoliberal housing politics has established market-governed housing provision with a minimum

of state engagement. This shift has had consequences on the social geography of housing

conditions. The research reported here analyzes social geographic change in Sweden’s three

largest cities, Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö, between 1986 and 2001, relating observed

patterns of gentrification and filtering to cycles of accumulation and to neoliberalization of

housing policies. First, we outline the... (More)
During the last twenty-five years, housing policy in Sweden has radically changed.

Once forming a pillar of the comprehensive welfare system, abbreviated ‘the Swedish model’,

neoliberal housing politics has established market-governed housing provision with a minimum

of state engagement. This shift has had consequences on the social geography of housing

conditions. The research reported here analyzes social geographic change in Sweden’s three

largest cities, Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö, between 1986 and 2001, relating observed

patterns of gentrification and filtering to cycles of accumulation and to neoliberalization of

housing policies. First, we outline the neoliberalization of Swedish housing policies. We then

present an empirical analysis of gentrification and filtering in the three cities, spanning two boom

periods (1986-1991, 1996-2001) and a bust period (1991-1996). The data reveal social

geographic polarization manifested in the growth of super-gentrification and low income

filtering. The analysis also introduces the concept of ordinary gentrification, supporting the move

in gentrification research towards a broad generic conception of the process. Political reforms

after 2001 are summarized and we argue that these are behind the continued increase in

inequality and that the social geographic polarization mapped between 1986 and 2001 has

probably intensified during this decade. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
filtering, gentrification, housing policy, neoliberalism, Sweden
in
Annals of the Association of American Geographers
volume
102
issue
2
pages
443 - 463
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000301652200010
  • scopus:84857932776
ISSN
0004-5608
DOI
10.1080/00045608.2011.620508
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
bbc2e907-1a5d-414f-ba8b-a1d654515798 (old id 1776771)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:02:59
date last changed
2022-04-28 03:47:44
@article{bbc2e907-1a5d-414f-ba8b-a1d654515798,
  abstract     = {{During the last twenty-five years, housing policy in Sweden has radically changed.<br/><br>
Once forming a pillar of the comprehensive welfare system, abbreviated ‘the Swedish model’,<br/><br>
neoliberal housing politics has established market-governed housing provision with a minimum<br/><br>
of state engagement. This shift has had consequences on the social geography of housing<br/><br>
conditions. The research reported here analyzes social geographic change in Sweden’s three<br/><br>
largest cities, Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö, between 1986 and 2001, relating observed<br/><br>
patterns of gentrification and filtering to cycles of accumulation and to neoliberalization of<br/><br>
housing policies. First, we outline the neoliberalization of Swedish housing policies. We then<br/><br>
present an empirical analysis of gentrification and filtering in the three cities, spanning two boom<br/><br>
periods (1986-1991, 1996-2001) and a bust period (1991-1996). The data reveal social<br/><br>
geographic polarization manifested in the growth of super-gentrification and low income<br/><br>
filtering. The analysis also introduces the concept of ordinary gentrification, supporting the move<br/><br>
in gentrification research towards a broad generic conception of the process. Political reforms<br/><br>
after 2001 are summarized and we argue that these are behind the continued increase in<br/><br>
inequality and that the social geographic polarization mapped between 1986 and 2001 has<br/><br>
probably intensified during this decade.}},
  author       = {{Hedin, Karin and Clark, Eric and Lundholm, Emma and Malmberg, Gunnar}},
  issn         = {{0004-5608}},
  keywords     = {{filtering; gentrification; housing policy; neoliberalism; Sweden}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{443--463}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Annals of the Association of American Geographers}},
  title        = {{Neoliberalization of housing in Sweden: gentrification, filtering and social polarization}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/2337294/2796177.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/00045608.2011.620508}},
  volume       = {{102}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}