Australia is experiencing a prolonged crisis that is hitting every part of the housing sector. According to Cotality, it now takes more than a decade to save for a standard home deposit. Six capital cities are now in the million dollar club. Even in Melbourne, recent affordability gains have been short-lived and prices are rising again. Rental vacancy rates are at an all-time low – sitting at 1% in some markets. Nationally, rental costs have risen by 37% since the COVID-19 pandemic. Worryingly, the number of people experiencing homelessness has risen from 95,000 to 122,000 between 2001 and 2021.
Why are housing affordability crises such intractable policy challenges in Australia and globally?
This online masterclass will provide participants with a strong understanding of Australia’s housing problems and solutions using housing economics principles. Participants will gain skills in unpacking Australia’s housing problems and understand how housing economists think to arrive at relevant policy solutions. The relationship between housing supply and demand, and their impacts on housing affordability is a theme that will run throughout the course. The role of government and the interaction between government policy and housing outcomes will also be explored. A variety of real-life case studies from Australian housing markets and policies, and a range of economic perspectives, will be presented.
Further Reading:
Australian parents are helping their kids buy a first home with less money, but more rent-free living.
Amid the election promises, what would actually help ‘fix’ the housing crisis? Here are 5 ideas.
Fixing Australia’s housing crisis — is increasing supply really a silver bullet?
Housing Hostages: Australia in 2050
About the facilitators
Professor Rachel Ong ViforJ
Rachel Ong ViforJ is currently John Curtin Distinguished Professor of Economics at Curtin University. Her research interests cover housing affordability dynamics, intergenerational housing concerns, the impacts of housing on the economy, and the links between housing and wellbeing, and housing policy evaluations.
Rachel is currently Vice-Chair of the Asia-Pacific Network for Housing Research. She is also a member of the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council, a statutory body that provides evidence-based advice on housing issues. She was recently Managing Editor of the journal Australian Economic Papers and Member of the CEDA Council on Economic Policy. Rachel has won numerous awards for her housing research and policy work, including the Young Economist Award, Berry Award for Excellence in Housing Research, and AACSB Influential Leaders Award.