Concepts and Debates Relating to Affordability and Affordable Housing

Dr. Stephen Agyeman-Yeboah

Abstract

The paper introduces the theoretical framework of the study and this chapter presents some of the contemporary debates in conceptualising the relationship between affordability and affordable housing. The aim of this chapter is to provide a platform for assessing Ghana’s housing affordability problem. The chapter is structured as follows. The first part reviews the concepts of affordability, discusses and defines affordability based primarily on literature for developed economies. Housing affordability is of great concern for policy makers. Access to adequate, secure and affordable housing is fundamental to the achievement of a socially cohesive and inclusive society. There is substantial evidence of a growing housing affordability problem in SSA and numerous interrelated factors have contributed to the loss of affordability. The second part concentrates on explaining the housing problems in SSA in which affordable housing is rethought in the context of developing countries.

Keywords:  Concepts and Debates, Affordability and Affordable Housing

Download