Housing policy and population problems in France

In this paper, the author describes the housing position in France to-day, and traces the reasons for the present housing shortage, which shows itself in the large number of old houses and the comparatively low level of building activity. This is traced to the history of rent restriction which has led to an increasing divergence between the restricted and the economic rent. The history of rent-restriction legislation is traced, and post-liberation measures of housing policy—both in the field of new house building and in the grant of housing allowances—are discussed.