Title Macroeconomic determinants of housing affordability in the European Union: panel evidence from the house price-to-income ratio
Another Title Makroekonominiai būsto įperkamumo veiksniai Europos Sąjungoje: būsto kainos ir pajamų santykio tyrimo įrodymai.
Authors Snieska, Vytautas ; Burkšaitienė, Daiva
DOI 10.15388/Tibe.2026.25.2.1
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Is Part of Transformations in business & economics = Verslo ir ekonomikos transformacijos.. Vilnius : Vilnius University Press. 2026, 25, iss. 2 (68), p. 21-37.. ISSN 1648-4460. eISSN 2538-872X
Keywords [eng] housing affordability ; house price‑to‑income ratio ; housing markets ; panel data analysis ; European Union
Abstract [eng] Housing affordability has become an increasingly important socio-economic issue across the European Union, as housing prices have grown faster than household incomes in many countries. This study investigates the macroeconomic determinants of housing affordability using the house price-to-income ratio as the main indicator. The empirical analysis is based on panel data for EU member states covering the period 2000–2024 and combines macroeconomic indicators from Eurostat, including GDP per capita, purchasing power parity indicators, and GDP price level indices. Panel econometric models with country- and time-fixed effects are used to estimate the relationship between macroeconomic variables and housing affordability dynamics. In addition, cluster analysis is applied to identify groups of countries with similar housing affordability trajectories. The results indicate that macroeconomic factors play a significant role in shaping housing affordability in EU countries. Higher price levels are associated with higher house price-to-income ratios, while income growth partially mitigates affordability pressures. Cluster analysis reveals substantial heterogeneity between European housing markets, highlighting different housing market regimes across EU member states.
Published Vilnius : Vilnius University Press
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2026
CC license CC license description