Australia’s Housing System and Intergenerational Sustainability

In the context of housing, intergenerational sustainability is related to the ability to meet the housing needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. There are clear changes emerging that signal threats to intergenerational sustainability in the Australian housing system, thereby also impacting inter- and intra-generational equity as well as the retirement income system more generally. Most elderly retirees are likely to continue to be securely positioned in outright ownership, but younger generations face a much more precarious housing future. Today’s young people are postponing their first home purchase, but the downward