ABSTRACT
The political economy of the process of production of dwellings is such a vast subject that several volumes could be written on it alone. Production is carried on largely by private undertakings or by the local authorities’ direct labour organisations. Building organisations have few resources committed to the construction of any building type or any method of construction. That is, they are merely organisations capable of building, and entry to a particular market is often conditioned by an ability to finance and manage work rather than by technical considerations. The advantages of construction on site are increased, as Stone points out, because of the need to tailor the dwelling to the site and to attach it to site services. The materials and components used are themselves the output of manufacturing industry and over time there has been a shift towards increased prefabrication.
