The (Many) Consequences of the Housing Affordability Problem in the EU: A Machine-Learning Empirical Analysis
IMF Working Papers, June 19, 2026
Source details
- Canonical URL
- The (Many) Consequences of the Housing Affordability Problem in the EU: A Machine-Learning Empirical Analysis
Other formats
Bibliographic details
- Authors: Jean-Jacques Hallaert, Iglika Vassileva
- Published: June 19, 2026
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229048248.001
Study overview
- Authors: Jean-Jacques Hallaert, Iglika Vassileva
- Publication date: June 19, 2026
- Type: IMF Working Paper (Working Paper No. 2026/124, Issue 124)
- Scope: EU-level machine-learning empirical analysis quantifying consequences of housing unaffordability on individuals’ well-being, and on economic and demographic outcomes
- Methodological note: Machine-Learning empirical analysis (as characterized by the paper)
Key findings
- The impact of an increase in housing cost burden is large on:
- Housing adequacy
- Poverty
- Health
- The impact is somewhat smaller on:
- Fertility
- Labor force participation
Thematic implications
- Well-being:
- Housing affordability deterioration strongly decreases housing adequacy.
- Housing cost burden materially increases poverty measures.
- Adverse effects on health outcomes are significant.
- Demographic and labor outcomes:
- Fertility is negatively affected, but the magnitude is smaller than for well-being indicators.
- Labor force participation is affected to a lesser extent relative to housing adequacy, poverty, and health.
- Economic implications:
- The paper quantifies economic impacts at the EU level, linking housing cost burden to measures of disposable income, labor, and national accounts considerations.
Subjects and keywords (as provided)
- Subjects: Disposable income, Housing, Housing prices, Income, Labor, Labor force participation, National accounts, Prices
- Keywords: Disposable income, Europe, Fertility, Fiscal Spending, Health, Housing, Housing Adequacy, Housing Affordability, Housing Availability, housing cost, housing price, Housing prices, IMF working papers, Income, Labor Force Participation, Machine-Learning, Poverty
Publication metadata and identifiers
- Pages: 60
- Volume: 2026
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229048248.001
- Issue: 124
- Series: Working Paper No. 2026/124
- Stock No: WPIEA2026124
- ISBN: 9798229048248
- ISSN: 1018-5941
Source: IMF Working Papers — "The (Many) Consequences of the Housing Affordability Problem in the EU: A Machine-Learning Empirical Analysis", Jean-Jacques Hallaert and Iglika Vassileva, June 19, 2026.
Content in this bundle
- Working Paper