In a recent episode of the UCLA Housing Voice podcast, Nordregio researcher Anna Granath Hansson joined Paavo Monkkonen and host Shane Phillips to explore whether inclusionary housing policies could provide both affordable housing and social diversity within Scandinavian neighbourhoods.
Inclusionary housing policies, which seek to create affordable housing and socially diverse neighbourhoods through land use regulation, have been widely implemented in the United States and have gradually spread across Europe. However, their adoption in Scandinavia has been cautious.
Despite Denmark, Norway, and Sweden’s shared welfare state traditions that emphasize equal opportunities and accessible housing, their planning systems have not readily embraced inclusionary policies. A recent study published in Housing Studies by Anna Granath Hansson, Janni Sørensen, Berit I. Nordahl, and Michael Tophøj Sørensen, delves into the unique political landscapes and housing policy frameworks of each Scandinavian country, highlighting the reasons behind this slow adoption.
The study finds that inclusionary housing policies deliver varying results across Scandinavia. In Denmark and Sweden, social diversity is prioritized, aiming for neighbourhoods that reflect a broader social mix. In Norway, the focus is primarily on affordability, reflecting a distinct policy emphasis. As a result, the effectiveness of inclusionary housing policies diverges depending on the national context and policy focus, raising important questions about their suitability within the Scandinavian welfare state model.
The research invites policymakers and urban planners to consider how inclusionary housing policies might be tailored to reflect the values and goals of Scandinavian societies, and whether these policies are the most effective tool for achieving both affordable and socially mixed housing across diverse urban landscapes.
