Housing differentiation and subjective social status of Chinese urban homeowners: evidence from CLDS. Issue 4 (15th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Fenglong; Zhang, Chuanyong
• Is Part Of: Housing studies. Volume 36:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 567
• Page End: 591
• Publication Date: 2020-07-15
• Subjects: Housing differentiation -- housing wealth -- housing condition -- neighborhood environment -- homeowner -- subjective social status; Housing -- Periodicals; 307.336
• DOI: 10.1080/02673037.2020.1793915
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0267-3037

Abstract

Abstract: Chinese urbanites' housing differentiation is a subject that attracts increasing scholarly attention. Previously, housing differentiation was measured by access to homeownership and housing tenure. Given high Chinese homeownership rates, however, heterogeneity among urban Chinese homeowners should be further decomposed. Many studies identified links between housing differentiation and social stratification, but few have examined residents' responses to their homes. Based on the China Labour-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS), this study decomposes homeowners' housing differentiation along three dimensions: housing conditions, housing wealth, and neighbourhood environment. We also examine the impacts of these dimensions on homeowners' subjective social status (SSS). Significant differentiation is found among homeowners in housing conditions, neighbourhood environment, and housing loans. Furthermore, housing wealth and neighbourhood environment affect homeowners' perceived social status. These findings advance housing differentiation studies and have important implications for policies aimed at reducing social inequality and housing poverty.