ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the causes and nature of the global housing crisis, a situation in which – across North and South – a severe mismatch between demand and supply for affordable housing has led to a severe shortage of decent houses, an increasing prevalence of informal housing, and evictions and displacements. Despite the global nature of these problems, we argue for a deeper understanding of housing issues and how they can be addressed within national contexts, rather than seeking to address them through singular or monolithic, neoliberal approaches. In making this argument, we draw on case studies of informal housing in Chile, Fiji, and Australia.
