Methodological weaknesses in the measurement approaches and concept of housing affordability used in housing research: A qualitative study

Housing affordability (HA) is considered an important determinant of a country’s socioeconomic development and stability. However, its optimal measurement has remained a major concern worldwide. In recent decades, methodological development and researches on housing affordability measurement approaches (HAMA) have accelerated and continue to grow exponentially. Despite this intensive global development, very few attempts have been made to present the theoretical bases and track the developmental trends of these approaches. Thus, this study attempts to fill this literature gap and extend prior studies by exploring several alternatives of HAMA; with a focus on their methodological weaknesses. This paper highlights three emerging novel methodologies, which complement the relative strength of the conventional approaches. Findings suggest that the main research evidence which summarizes the weaknesses in the conventional measures is; their inability to incorporate sustainability features and over reliance on economic dimension. While the complexity of emerging methodologies, though deepen the overall understanding of multiple concerns that breed HA problems. But are less transparent, more data intensive, and their computation is very demanding, with a high tendency that their complex nature could weaken their uptake by researchers. This study raises concern over the nearly sole reliance on the conventional approaches in the reformations of policy instrument, despite their overwhelming weaknesses. It reiterates the need for reconsideration and offers new insight, but not conclusive information on better ways to conceptualize and measure HA.

住房可负担性（Housing Affordability, HA）被视为影响一国社会经济发展与稳定的重要决定因素。然而，其最优测算方法至今仍是全球范围内亟待解决的核心议题。近数十年来，住房可负担性测算方法（Housing Affordability Measurement Approaches, HAMA）的方法论发展与相关研究进展迅猛，并持续呈指数级增长态势。尽管全球范围内此类研究发展如火如荼，但目前极少有研究系统梳理此类方法的理论基础并追踪其发展脉络。为此，本研究旨在填补这一文献空白，通过探讨多种住房可负担性测算方法的备选方案，并重点剖析其方法论层面的缺陷，以拓展已有研究的边界。本文重点介绍了三种新兴创新型测算方法，它们可弥补传统测算方法的相对短板。研究结果显示，学界总结的传统测算方法的核心缺陷在于：无法纳入可持续性维度，且过度依赖经济层面的考量。尽管新兴测算方法的复杂性提升了学界对引发住房可负担性问题的多重因素的整体认知，但此类方法透明度较低、对数据需求量大且计算成本高昂，其复杂特性往往会降低研究者的采用意愿。尽管传统测算方法存在诸多显著缺陷，但当前政策工具改革中却几乎仅依赖此类方法，本研究对此现象提出了担忧。本研究重申了对现有测算方法进行重新审视的必要性，并为住房可负担性的概念构建与测算提供了新的视角，但并未给出可定论的最优解决方案。