Towards an understanding of the regional impact of Airbnb in Ireland

This paper considers the linkages between the home-sharing platform Airbnb and the housing crisis in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), in Ireland. This area is in the midst of a housing crisis, with a significant undersupply of housing units and rising unaffordability, especially the city of Dublin. While the sharing economy, better exemplified here by Airbnb, has become a major part of the global economy, it is less clear what is the regional impact of Airbnb, an online platform that allows people rent out part or all of their home for short stays. Among the claimed benefits for the tourism sector there are concerns that home sharing removes potential housing supply from the private rental sector to the short-term rental sector, which could aggravate the housing shortage. Along these lines, this paper documents this contemporary urban spatial issue, using rental asking prices data and data from Airbnb listings. The study does not intend to criticize the sharing platforms themselves but rather their disruptive impact and the short-term rental market within a digital economy context more widely. It is found that whilst not the only factor for the current housing crisis in Greater Dublin, Airbnb’s presence in the short-term housing is a vivid element of the current housing crisis in the country, which poses challenges for regulators and home seekers

Brexit threatens UK-Latin America cooperation in higher education, but both sides can help to ensure it continues

Current and past bilateral initiatives show that the UK's exit from the European Union is not only a threat, but also as an opportunity, writes Valesca Lima (Dublin City University). European integration has contributed to worldwide development both by driving trade with the European single market and through funding research cooperation. But the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU raises important economic ..

Book review: A research agenda for housing edited by Markus Moos

In A Research Agenda for Housing, editor Markus Moos bring together contributors to illustrate and examine the major theoretical, analytical and empirical developments in the housing field, showing housing to be a complex area and an essential priority for public policy. Offering useful analytical tools and evidence-based, interdisciplinary research, this collection will be a key resource for housing researchers, writes Valesca Lima

Innovations in affordable housing: lessons from not-for-profit housing developers (MUSSI Working Paper Series 10)

Social housing policy in Ireland has largely moved from the direct state provision to subsidized private rental housing in the past years. The shortage of affordable housing is one aspect of a sharp deterioration of the living condition experienced by a broad sector of the population. In Dublin, where the housing shortage is more severe, the housing crisis has challenged governments to increase social housing and tackle the current rise in family homelessness. Irish Housing associations represent the not-for-profit housing sector in Ireland. They are one of the main government partners in the provision of social housing, but it has itself also suffered with cuts in government funding. In this study, I examine the role of those not-for-profit affordable housing developers in shaping effective responses to housing affordability problems in Ireland. Taking the experience of housing associations based in Dublin, I explore their participation in delivering affordable housing and how they have achieved housing affordability goals through low-cost housing and public-private partnerships. This study concludes that there is sufficient evidence to prove that housing affordability is possible, and despite the valuable role of housing association in direct housing provision, higher rates of local authorities housing input is still needed

Innovations in affordable housing: lessons from not-for-profit housing developers (MUSSI Working Paper Series 10)

Social housing policy in Ireland has largely moved from the direct state provision to subsidized private rental housing in the past years. The shortage of affordable housing is one aspect of a sharp deterioration of the living condition experienced by a broad sector of the population. In Dublin, where the housing shortage is more severe, the housing crisis has challenged governments to increase social housing and tackle the current rise in family homelessness. Irish Housing associations represent the not-for-profit housing sector in Ireland. They are one of the main government partners in the provision of social housing, but it has itself also suffered with cuts in government funding. In this study, I examine the role of those not-for-profit affordable housing developers in shaping effective responses to housing affordability problems in Ireland. Taking the experience of housing associations based in Dublin, I explore their participation in delivering affordable housing and how they have achieved housing affordability goals through low-cost housing and public-private partnerships. This study concludes that there is sufficient evidence to prove that housing affordability is possible, and despite the valuable role of housing association in direct housing provision, higher rates of local authorities housing input is still needed

Social housing systems and welfare in Ireland and Portugal: a comparative analysis

In this study, we analyse the significant changes in housing policies and social welfare in Portugal and Ireland. Acknowledging the transformation of housing into a commodity, which has led to significant changes in the provision of social housing to low-income families, we show how these two countries, with distinct welfare systems and different patterns of retrenchment, had similar housing trajectories and pressures after the 2008 economic crisis. Using a comparative approach, our analysis shows Ireland and Portugal are not necessarily converging towards the same policy but evidence does suggest that both countries are moving their housing policy further towards financialisation. These results contribute to the understanding of how neoliberal housing policy has focused on state retrenchment and how financialisation has shaped social housing provision.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

From housing crisis to housing justice: Towards a radical right to a home

Amidst a protracted housing crisis that has affected major cities in Europe and beyond, vibrant social movements for housing justice are trying to challenge the notion that housing is a commodity, with transformative demands framing housing as a fundamental human right. This paper explores the ways housing movements in Dublin use direct and confrontational approaches as political action. Previous literature has examined the emergence of new housing movements as a direct consequence of the economic and social challenges that arose as a result of the economic downturn and neoliberal austerity policies. However, there is, as yet, little that addresses the ways autonomous housing groups engage in non-violent direct action and the challenges they face in trying not just to promote a radical change of policy but also in carrying out practical prefigurative action. As such, the findings in this study provide insights into how emerging direct-action-oriented housing groups fight for housing justice

Housing coalition dynamics: a comparative perspective

Social movement coalitions are a vital component within the dynamics of political mobilization. While previous research has established why and how coalitions emerge and dissolve, how they are maintained and the outcomes they generate have been less explored, especially in housing studies. This research contributes to the study of movement coalitions through an empirical examination of the dynamics of how coalitions interact, cooperate, and sustain alliances, in addition to exploring the outcomes that are produced as a result of these coalitions. It draws upon a comparative approach of housing coalitions in Dublin and Lisbon, where local housing groups have played a critical role in protesting against housing injustices and in articulating alternative policy solutions to the housing crisis. In mapping the diversity of coalition members, this research finds that tolerance for difference and negotiation capacity impacts how long coalitions last as well as the outcomes that they lead to. This study contributes to the study of coalitions by analyzing the relation- ship between outcomes and the mechanisms which sustain coalitions using a comparative framework

The Role of Local Government in the Prevention of Violence against Women and Girls during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This article discusses aspects of the emerging evidence around the impact of COVID-19 on violence against women as well as local government interventions relating to the prevention of domestic violence in Latin American countries. I show how, during the coronavirus outbreak, local governments are vital in the prevention of violence against women and girls, and I present examples of some local actions that seek to guarantee access to the appropriate support and services during the pandemic

Book Review: Shaazka Beyerle, Curtailing corruption: People power for accountability and justice

Making politics more open and transparent is one of the main challenges for civil society. In Curtailing Corruption: People Power for Accountability and Justice , Beyerle puts together an interesting text that describes and analyses dif- ferent approaches to fight corruption around the globe. To that end, she uses a mixed methods approach and a variety of case studies. From Latin America to Asia, this book sharply dis sects social movements and civil society strategies to abolish corruption in different social contexts. Going beyond geographic bound- aries, the author lays out an important analysis on theories of new social move- ments