Affordable housing policy in China: New developments and new challenges

This paper shows that the balance of several overriding policy objectives has determined the direction of the affordable housing policy in urban China. The priorities of the Chinese affordable housing policy agenda include promoting economic growth and urbanization through the efficient allocation of housing-related resources and ensuring political consolidation and social stability by maintaining housing affordability for mainstream society. The achievements and problems of affordable housing programs in post-reform China are introduced. We also discuss what lessons we can draw from the Chinese affordable housing policy developments.