kathimerini.gr
EU Housing Crisis: Soaring Prices and Overcrowding
Across the EU, housing prices have risen 58% and rents 27.8% since 2010; Greece shows a smaller price increase but stagnant or falling rents, coupled with rising overcrowding (33% of renters) despite economic recovery.
- How does the increase in renters in Greece compare to other EU countries, considering both the overall percentage and the rate of overcrowding?
- The increasing cost of housing across the EU, particularly since 2015, is forcing more people into renting. In Greece, the renter population has risen from 25% in 2015 to 30.3% in 2024, mirroring a broader EU trend where the renter population increased from 29.6% to 31.6% during the same period. This increase is accompanied by overcrowding; one in three Greek renters live in overcrowded housing.
- What is the current state of the housing crisis in the EU, particularly focusing on the disparity between rent and home price increases and their impact on renters?
- The EU has seen a 58% increase in housing prices and a 27.8% rise in rents since 2010. In Greece, while housing prices have increased by only 9.1% nationwide and 14.8% in Attica since 2010, rents remain 11% below 2010 levels, despite inflation impacting purchasing power. This disparity highlights a growing housing crisis.
- What are the long-term implications of the rising housing costs and overcrowding for social equity and economic stability in the EU, and what policy interventions could potentially mitigate the situation?
- The mismatch between wage growth and rising rents in the EU suggests that improvements in living standards haven't materialized for many. While some countries like Hungary show a decrease in renters, Greece and Spain demonstrate a significant increase, indicating a widening gap in housing affordability across the EU. Overcrowding rates, particularly concerning in Greece (33%), further highlight the severity of this crisis.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing emphasizes the severity of the housing crisis, particularly in Greece, by highlighting the increase in rental costs and overcrowding. The use of phrases like "steadily worsening living conditions" and "unable to access the housing market" contributes to this emphasis. While presenting data from other EU countries, the focus remains on Greece's situation and its comparison to EU averages.
Language Bias
The language used is generally neutral and factual, relying on statistical data and comparisons. There is no evident use of loaded terms or emotionally charged language.
Bias by Omission
The analysis focuses primarily on Greece and the EU, comparing them. However, it omits a broader global perspective on the housing crisis and the experiences of other countries outside the EU. While acknowledging space constraints is understandable, including comparative data from a few non-EU nations would enrich the analysis.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights a rise in housing costs, particularly rents, impacting affordability and potentially pushing more people into poverty or near-poverty situations. Increased housing costs disproportionately affect low-income households, reducing their ability to meet basic needs and increasing economic insecurity. The increase in overcrowding among renters further exacerbates this issue.