ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to develop the concept of social relations contained in M. Ball and M. Harloe broader concept of the 'structure of housing provision'. It argues that the social relations involved in the structure of housing provision (SHP) should be understood in terms of agents' positions in production, circulation, and consumption of housing. Ball's SHP concept is intended to extend the scope of housing study beyond the limitations of policy centred and consumption based discussion. The intention is to redirect the focus of housing study from a single-minded focus upon housing policies to an analysis of the entire process of housing provision. Large scale state-provided housing and economic growth seem to go hand in hand in Singapore and Hong Kong. Nonetheless, it is unconvincing to insist that such a housing policy is necessary for rapid economic growth. The structure of housing provision should be conceived as a process whereby the agents are inter-linked through their actions.
