This report analyses the economic constraints on people’s ability to buy a home in Australia over the four decades from the early 1980s. It also examines how home ownership has evolved over time; considers demand subsidies provided to first homebuyers; and examines the support from other family for first homebuyers.

This study analyses current geographic mobility and downsizing behaviours among Australians aged over 55, and considers the barriers to, and consequences of downsizing. Retired Australians tend to retain high levels of housing wealth (rising to 49% of assets for homeowners aged 75+) and most choose not to downsize, either by moving to a smaller dwelling...

The effect of house prices on households’ financial decisions has been an important question facing researchers and policy-makers. Increases in house prices may lead households to take on additional debt, refinance an existing mortgage, or change the composition of the debt held. Studies of labour supply have also found significant changes in work patterns due...

The objective of the research presented in this report is to identify the nature and magnitude of the relationship between house prices, household debt and the labour market decisions of Australian households. It is well known that there is a positive relationship among house prices, household debt and labour supply. However, empirical estimates of the...

This Positioning Paper outlines the research questions and methodology for an AHURI research study which utilises HILDA panel data and instrumental variable econometric techniques to interrogate the relationship between housing prices, household debt and labour supply in Australia. It provides preliminary evidence of important differences in the magnitude and expression of these relationships for partnered...