Housing and Political Efficacy
Type
conference paper
Date Issued
2023-06-17
Author(s)
Abstract
It has long been established that education and income affect people’s political efficacy. Surprisingly,
the role of wealth - in particular, housing wealth - has thus far been ignored in this literature. We
theorise that housing performs several functions that increase political efficacy and test our arguments
using data from three large representative surveys administered in the UK. We first argue that housing
wealth provides a form of ”self-insurance”, which on the one hand facilitates civic engagement, and on
the other hand raises people’s stakes in the political process. In line with this argument, we find that
homeowners, owners of more valuable houses, owners who have paid off their mortgage, and individuals
who believe themselves to be higher in the housing wealth distribution all exhibit higher efficacy.
Based on the literature on status expectations and the politics of resentment, we furthermore investigate
whether intergenerational housing mobility affects political efficacy. However, we find no evidence that
upward or downward intergenerational housing mobility affects efficacy beyond the first-order effect of
homeownership. Finally, we study whether stronger local ties explain the higher efficacy of homeowners.
Again, however, we find no evidence that length of tenancy in the area affects homeowners and renters
differently. The results of this study show that housing - and by extension wealth more generally -
constitutes a hitherto neglected but crucial determinant of political efficacy, chiefly by providing security
which enables and incentivises engagement.
the role of wealth - in particular, housing wealth - has thus far been ignored in this literature. We
theorise that housing performs several functions that increase political efficacy and test our arguments
using data from three large representative surveys administered in the UK. We first argue that housing
wealth provides a form of ”self-insurance”, which on the one hand facilitates civic engagement, and on
the other hand raises people’s stakes in the political process. In line with this argument, we find that
homeowners, owners of more valuable houses, owners who have paid off their mortgage, and individuals
who believe themselves to be higher in the housing wealth distribution all exhibit higher efficacy.
Based on the literature on status expectations and the politics of resentment, we furthermore investigate
whether intergenerational housing mobility affects political efficacy. However, we find no evidence that
upward or downward intergenerational housing mobility affects efficacy beyond the first-order effect of
homeownership. Finally, we study whether stronger local ties explain the higher efficacy of homeowners.
Again, however, we find no evidence that length of tenancy in the area affects homeowners and renters
differently. The results of this study show that housing - and by extension wealth more generally -
constitutes a hitherto neglected but crucial determinant of political efficacy, chiefly by providing security
which enables and incentivises engagement.
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
No
Event Title
European Political Science Association Conference
Event Location
Glasgow
Event Date
24.06.2023