Contradictions in China's affordable housing policy: Goals vs. structure

• This paper analyzes the contradictions in China's affordable housing policy.
• A comprehensive assessment on China's affordable housing programs is provided.
• China's inter-governmental structure has become a barrier to affordable housing provision.
• Some innovations have been introduced to improve affordable housing policies in China.

Though China has achieved great strides in improving housing provision, it is still plagued by a lack of affordable housing. Over the last two decades, China has launched several affordable housing programs to help low- and moderate-income households own or rent decent homes. However, critics argue that those programs increase housing inequality. This research analyzes the contradictions in China's affordable housing policy. Based on a comprehensive and critical assessment of the country's major affordable housing programs, this research finds that the division of powers, incentives, responsibilities, and revenue sources between the central government and local governments has worked against the state's affordable housing goals. This research also examines the innovations that the government has introduced to improve affordable housing policies in recent years.