Housing inequalities under socialism: The case of Poland

The study empirically investigates interurban inequalities in housing conditions in Poland during the 1946-84 period in relation to the socialist policy of equal housing for everyone. The patterns of these inequalities are examined from three perspectives: geographic location of cities, sizes, and the type of major economic activity. Interurban disparities are examined in terms of housing availability, and quality indices through the use of analysis of variance, multiple regression, and coefficients of variations.;The most striking differences in housing conditions in the early post-World War II period had been found between cities located in western Poland and those located in the eastern part of the country. These early east-west inequalities have been significantly reduced throughout the socialist period. Convergence in housing inequalities between cities in western and eastern Poland took place both in housing availability and housing quality. Uneven territorial allocation of meager funds for housing construction and maintenance, and the initial postwar policy of low rent have been chiefly responsible for the process of "equalization through deterioration.";Interurban disparities in relation to size and type of cities had existed before and have been magnified during the socialist period. Dwellings in small and agricultural towns as compared to those in large and industrial cities have been characterized by lower levels of improvements. The crisis of small towns, an outcome of the policy of heavy industrialization during the 1950s, left these urban settlements outside the mainstream of housing construction and modernization programs. Large and medium-size cities, rich in raw materials for heavy industry or having well-developed industry, have been promoted by the government for further development and received disproportionately large share of funds for housing. In spite of preferential treatment of these cities, continuous increase of their population and the entrance of the baby-boom generation into the housing market only exacerbated housing shortages in the largest urban centers. The professed socialist government policy of equal housing for everyone does not appear to be the main mechanism shaping the housing situation in Poland. The dominant mechanisms seem to stem from economic policies aimed at rapid industrial development of the country. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)...