International Urban and Housing Policy: A Review of the ‘Cambridge Studies’, 1989–95

Abstract

The post-1980 period has been one of rapid and fundamental changes, including the international integration of economic activity, structural economic reforms, and the widespread revisions of theories and practices. These changes have influenced urban land, and housing policies. In a context of rapid change scholars are faced with problems of selection, interpretation, and critical evaluation. Information and interpretations can be dated and have omissions. It is argued in this paper that such has been the case in the programme of urban research carried out by Peter Ward and some of his research team. In this paper the aim is to correct, reinterpret, and then develop ideas which are more appropriate in a period of fundamental change, relying upon principles from political science, and institutional and public policy economics.