Policy-driven socio-technical structures and Swedish households' consumption of housing and transport since the 1950s

Swedish households generate, through the goods and services they consume (and considering the whole chain of production), almost 90 per cent out of Sweden’s total carbon dioxide emissions (Carlsson-Kanyama et al, 2007). According to a Public Investigation Report from 2004 (SOU, 2004:119), a major part of these emissions are in turn caused by housing- and transport-related consumption. ¹ The consumption of transport- and housing-related products and services have historically constituted significant shares of total household expenses in Sweden, and these shares have also increased over time (Söderholm, 2007). This can be compared to household consumption patterns in England where a number of other expense categories have increased more in relative terms, e.g. recreation and entertainment, ² communication ³ and domestic appliances (Jackson and Marks, 1999). This chapter aims to contribute a more in-depth understanding of the historical development of Swedish household consumption of housing and transport during the second half of the 20th century. The analysis focuses on the socio-technical context of household consumption behaviour, and illustrates in particular how the Swedish government during this period has (directly and indirectly) intervened in household consumption with significant complications for the environment.