The relationship between housing affordability and the desire for children.

• Main Authors: Liu, Ye., Yin, Ji Jian., Low, Jaslyn Sze Leng.
• Other Authors: Kong Yoon Kee
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Family, marriage and women; DRNTU::Social sciences::Economic development::Singapore
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/48325
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This study examines the link between housing affordability and the desire for children. It explores three underlying factors which may be affected by housing affordability and are also weighed strongly by couples before deciding to have children: the perceived level of child’s well-being, importance of career to woman and standard of living. Our study adopts a novel approach in linking housing affordability and the desire for children, which are pressing issues faced by Singapore. In Singapore, housing payments can be made using both cash and the Central Provident Fund (CPF). Our study finds that when people consider housing affordability, the cash amount paid for housing is more significant to them. Our research concludes that the more affordable the house, the higher the perceived child’s well-being and the lower the importance of career to woman. These two factors are then linked to couples’ stronger desire for children. Particularly, the relationships are stronger for people who do not own a residential property and have less than two children. From our results, measures are proposed to improve housing affordability and fertility rate simultaneously. For example, first-time home applicants can be given higher housing grants.