Residential mobility and housing choices among Lithuanians of the 1970-1984 generation

Abstract

The presentation is based on the data of a quantitative and qualitative study on housing preferences and choices among Lithuanians of the 1970–1984 generation. Drawing on the theoretical framework of residential mobility and housing choice, biographical interviews and the National survey (n=3005) of Lithuanians of the birth cohort of 1970–1984 were analyzed. The study aims at identifying the differences within the cohort: the time for moving out of the parental household, the reasons for it, how the representatives of this cohort selfprovide housing and what kind of housing they choose for living, and how accessible is housing ownership to them, what impact the so-called bounded rationality, i.e. different resources, constraints, and opportunities, has on the housing choices of representatives of different generations. Empirical research shows that the socioeconomic differences of the generation being analyzed correlates both with different opportunities of its representatives in seeking private housing ownership and with the quality of housing owned by them and satisfaction with it. Young households of the middle generation, and especially those in the lower socioeconomic position, find seeking private housing ownership and high-quality housing, which meets their needs, without parental or external support rather difficult.