National housing needs: methodology and myths

Many countries now see their national housing needs as a question of quality rather than numbers. But can they be sure in either case that their arithmetic is correct? Sometimes a wider perspective highlights defects in particular national statistics, and this penetrating review of European and North American experience may suggest arresting subjects for debate in certain countries. The author is international research co-ordinator in the Office of Policy Development and Research, US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Department.