Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2005. / Advisor: Richard S. Harris. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 262-289). Also available online.

Thesis (M. S.)--Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Boston, Thomas, Committee Chair ; Nair-Reichert, Usha, Committee Member ; Li, Haizheng, Committee Member.

Thesis (M. Hous. M.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007.

Dissertation (Ph. D.)--University of Akron, Dept. of Public Administration and Urban Studies , 2009. / "May, 2009." Title from electronic dissertation title page (viewed 11/18/2009) Advisor, Raymond W. Cox III; Committee members, RaJade M. Berry-James, Ralph P. Hummel, Michael Nelson, Sylvester Murray; Interim Department Chair, Raymond W. Cox III; Dean of the College, Chand Midha; Dean of the Graduate School, George R. Newkome. Includes bibliographical references.

As the central pillar of the Krupp steel firm’s much-publicized company welfare initiatives, employee housing has played a vital role in shaping Krupp’s corporate identity from 1855 to the present. The central objective of this dissertation is to examine and critically assess primary and secondary sources written about Krupp housing in order to determine its historical meaning and impact. Previous historical writings on Krupp have predominantly overlooked the fact that at the conclusion of World War One, Essen’s Friedrich Krupp A G was not only Germany’s largest steel producer and leading armaments manufacturer, but with over 12,000 units constructed also the nation’s largest private sector provider of housing. While Krupp’s integral involvement in the German war effort and the brutality of trench warfare would contribute to transforming its international reputation from the “Armoury of the German Empire” to “Merchants of Death”, domestic Heimatkultur [native culture] publications were heralding the company’s housing initiatives as blueprints for planning the post-war communities of returning soldiers. It is the fascinating dualism of the firm’s reputation as both agents of mass destruction and apparent social welfare innovator that provides the central impetus for this study. This dissertation examines the social, economic, political and cultural forces that combined to define the historical significance of Krupp housing activities. Of particular interest in this regard was the role Germany’s largest industrial complex played in promoting cultural perceptions about German housing. More specifically, it depicts how Krupp’s extensive housing activities and marketing strategies influenced the early development of the German Kleinsiedlung form during a period (1892-1941) that spanned the Wilhelmine, Weimar and National Socialist years. This study thus contributes another chapter to the growing scholarly literature on the history of the German Kleinsiedlung that Tilman Harlander has fittingly described as a ''spezifisch deutsche Geschichte” [specifically German story]. Within this story Krupp’s company housing legacy represented a Sonderweg [a distinct path]. After having analyzed and thoroughly contextualized the wide range of historical writings on Krupp housing, I conclude that by 1918, three Krupp housing projects in particular — the Altenhof, Margarethenhöhe, and Heimaterde — represented highly influential and equally controversial working models of urban planning and social engineering. The most pronounced historical impact of Krupp’s housing was that it was not only portrayed but also interpreted as a very bold, large-scale intervention into alleviating the housing crisis long before this problem was directly addressed by the German state after World War One. Krupp not only possessed the initiative, but more importantly, the financial means to transform theory into practice. In particular for reformers of the political right, Krupp’s Sonderstellung [distinct status] in the German political economy, combined with the absence of labour militancy in the nation’s most heavily industrialized city, proved highly inspirational for their urban planning ideas. Between the final years of the Weimar Republic and the outbreak of the Second World War, this impact would reach unprecedented heights. When noted National Socialist idealogue Gottfried Feder published his blueprint for the ideal new cities of the Third Reich in Die Neue Stadt: Versuch der Begründung einer neuen Stadtplanlmnst aus der sozialen Struktur der Bevölkerung [The New City: An attempt at founding a new planning artform out of the social structure of the population] (1939), he cited Krupp’s Margarethenhöhe and Heimaterde as „vorbildlich praktische Beispiele" [exemplary practical examples] of „musterhaften Groβsiedlunger” [model large settlements]. / Graduate

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University. / Introduction Social stratification is a well documented phenomenon in sociological literature; however, there is substantial recognition that understanding of the underlying principles is inadequate and incomplete. There is often confusion of general and specific types of stratification, and the most widely accepted stratification indices are based on studies of old, stable, and integrated communities. In the light of these limitations, there is an expressed need for (1) the investigation of various kinds of communities and (2) greater precision in defining the types of stratification studied. A socially heterogeneous, low income housing project, fictitiously designated Project HH, was selected as the field of study because a review of the literature did not reveal any such population as having been previously investigated. Using as a point of departure Max Weber's conceptualization of the three orders of stratification as manifested in political power, economic power and social status, this research confined itself to the question of social status. [TRUNCATED]

This research study is concerned with the projected, significant rise in the number of older people in the next 20 to 30 years with a consequent growth in demand for health, social care and specialised housing. There is also an added challenge of meeting this growing demand alongside government policy requirements on ‘choice’ and ‘voice’, as they operate in Wales, as well as current and projected fiscal challenges. In the context of the challenges posed by an increasing older people population this research study will explore the concept of choice and specifically whether housing choice exists for older people in maintaining their independence in old age. The significance of independent living in the context of this research study, relates to an individual’s ability to maintain choice and control over their daily lives within their home environment. The research findings indicate that decisions made, or not made, by individuals in terms of planning ahead for old age, can potentially impact on their ability to sustain independence as they age in the home of their choice. The tendency for older people to ‘discount the future’ is explored by the researcher highlighting the potential to influence such behaviour by encouraging older people to ‘count the future’ and plan for it in terms of their individual needs. The impact on individual housing choice of decisions made by organisations, in particular local authorities, the NHS and Registered Social Landlords, is also explored within the Literature Review and discussion of the research findings. The consequences of a growing elderly population will be explored by focusing on how the housing choices available to older people with a long term condition, and potentially increasing care needs as they age, may be influenced by decisions made at an individual and organisation level. The findings of this qualitative, exploratory study are based on data collected and analysed from 22 one to one, semi-structured interviews with 2 groups of older people. The Prospective Group (forward looking to potential changes in their housing needs) comprised 10 older people aged between 57 to 80 years, all of whom live in their own home in the community, and the Retrospective Group (looking back to the circumstances that prompted changes in their housing needs) comprised 12 older people aged between 66 to 84 years, all of whom have moved in to sheltered housing. The research findings were also reviewed and discussed with a number of community based groups and a Focus Group. Analysis and discussion of the research findings enabled the identification of a number of themes which the researcher has distilled in to 3 overarching themes: • Enabling informed choice • Issues for organisations • Issues for Individuals The findings of this research study are important because they illustrate that, while most if not all Individuals wish to remain independent in the home of their choice as they age, achievement of this outcome is usually left to chance. The researcher argues that this will continue to be the case unless action is taken at a national and local level to clarify the role of organisations and individuals in supporting and achieving independent living in to old age. The findings point to potentially significant implications for individuals and organisations in terms of an erosion of choices available for sustaining independence in to old age, at an individual level, and an inability to sustain services, at an organisation level. Emerging policy and continued national and local debate on the issues explored by this research study illustrate an increased focus on the consequences of an ageing population. The researcher suggests that future planning of housing and communities will need to more effectively reflect the diverse needs, wants and expectations of current and future generations of older people in terms of the homes they wish to live in.

No description available.

The thesis contains two papers focusing on different aspects of housing markets in Hong Kong. The first paper investigates the nexus between housing price index, exports, loans and housing rental index. Using the vector error-correction models, it provides empirical evidence on the links among housing price, rents, exports and private loans. Although some past studies have argued for the importance of exports on housing price growth in the long run, we observe a less dominating effect. Instead, we find that private loans and housing rental index are more important determinants of housing price index. The second paper studies the crowding out effect between public and private housing stocks. Our empirical results reject the hypothesis that public housing stock crowds out private housing stock. Instead, they confirm a strong positive long-run relationship between the private and public owner-occupied housing stocks. Our model also provides evidence for a positive relationship between private housing stock and household size, and a negative relationship between public housing stock and household size. These relations imply that the government should bring housing issues into the formulation of population policy.

Since housing choice and strategy are the result of both an individual’s financial capability in a particular life stage, as well as overall political-economic circumstances, the study of housing behavior has been used to emphasize processes of urban development and social change. However, housing behavior in the Chinese context has not attracted much research attention. Although many studies have been done on various topics surrounding China’s housing reform, only several quantitative studies have touched upon the topic of individual housing behavior. All of the existing literature is based on statistics before 1998 when work-unit housing distribution was officially repealed. This thesis offers an update of qualitative information on how young white-collar workers approach homeownership after 1998. Ten young homeowners from Beijing, together with some practitioners in the housing market and two governmental officials were interviewed. Based on the information offered by the interviewees, this thesis examines how state policies, market situations, family structure, and special characteristics of Beijing as a capital city impact the housing choices and strategies of young homeowners. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate