The Policy Context

Abstract

Accounts of the development of housing provision and housing policy in Britain lend little support to assumptions that housing policy has emerged as a natural response to economic development or changing housing needs. There has normally been disagreement over what constitute the needs which should be addressed through policy and over the best ways of responding to need. And in any case, there have been other important pressures and concerns which have influenced policy — concerns about the spread of disease; civil disorder and threats to the political status quo; the creation of employment, reflation of the economy, or control of inflation; the reduction of public expenditure and electoral calculations. British experience is no different from that of other countries in this respect and accounts of the development of housing policy in other countries illustrate the range of factors influencing housing strategies (see, for example, Harloe, 1995; Pooley, 1992). This wide range of influences continues to affect policy and action in housing. The housing agenda for those involved in the policy process at different levels is not a one-dimensional one in which the aims are straightforward, the mechanisms for achieving policy are uncomplicated and the task is simply to marshal resources, communicate what is wanted and control performance. In contrast, objectives are complex and often in conflict and the context which affects resources, methods and performance is a changing one. This policy context changes over time and according to place. The context for achieving objectives in relation to meeting housing need, improving housing conditions or achieving specified standards of performance differs between cities and districts and over time. In this sense, assessing what policies can achieve or what tasks have to be overcome involves a recognition that the task varies and is uneven and that the resources available differ. Policies which are effective in one context, say of full employment, moderate real interest rates and modest house price inflation, may be less effective when interest rates are high or house prices fall or unemployment is high.