The American Housing Survey From a Cross- National Perspective

Andrew Beer, Debbie Faulkner
Centre for Housing, Urban and Regional Planning, The University of Adelaide

As with the articles in this issue, this introduction reflects the views of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In all developed economies, housing is an important part of the economy, a major determinant of individual and community well-being, and a dominant part of the urban landscape. Across time periods and international boundaries, real and pressing questions on housing are open for public policy, research, and community debate. The links between the ongoing economic downturn in most developed nations and the subprime mortgage market underline the significance of housing in the contemporary era. The articles in this Cityscape symposium highlight both the strength of U.S.-based research and the richness of data available to those investigating a range of housingrelated issues. The wealth of articles in this symposium—ranging from disability and housing through to energy costs, the quality of the dwelling stock, housing vouchers, and affordability— serves as testimony to the value of good-quality research infrastructure such as the American Housing Survey (AHS).