The Recent State of Housing Affordability :Preliminary Analysis of Housing Cost Burden Using the Microdata Samples of the National Survey of Family Income and Expenditure

Abstract

This study investigates the recent conditions of housing affordability problems in Japan. By employing the microdata samples of the National Survey of Family Income and Expenditure, it quantifies housing cost burden among different household groups segmented by housing tenure, annual income, and age. The study finds increased housing cost burden among low-income renter households; the proportion of income spent on housing increased from 26% to 49% from 1989 to 2004.