International perspectives on local government and housing: the Australian case in context

<p dir="ltr">This paper examines the role of local government in the provision of housing across advanced economies in the contemporary economy and historically, while seeking to locate the Australian experience in a broader international perspective. The paper finds that ongoing challenges have given rise to policy innovation and new programmatic perspective. These developments have reflected non-systematic, and often disruptive, change rather than the continuation of predictable trends. The paper argues such evolution will continue and will be more likely to deliver benefits to the local government sector and housing affordability if acknowledged and enabled by more senior tiers of government. </p>