Introduction

The existence of the spatial link between housing and labour markets is of considerable importance in that it provides a framework for understanding many of the important issues and problems which affect individuals and localities, as well as economic and social policy. While individuals can change either their job or their house within a given labour and housing market without necessarily having to change both, a move from one market to another, usually entails changing both their job and their house. In buoyant sunbelt labour markets, labour demand and incomes are likely to be much higher than in declining heavy industrial areas or in peripheral cheap labour reserves. Recognizing the mediating role of households in the changing character of labour market and housing market relations is also important, as much of the foregoing has indicated. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.