Informal Housing in Greece: A Multinomial Logistic Regression Analysis at the Regional Level

Serafeim Polyzos; Dionysios Minetos

doi:10.2478/esrp-2013-0011

Authors

Serafeim Polyzos Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Pedion Areos, 38334 Volos, Greece
Dionysios Minetos Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Pedion Areos, 38334 Volos, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2478/esrp-2013-0011

Keywords:

informal housing, land use changes, multinomial logistic regression, housing policy, Greece

Abstract

This paper deals with the primary causes of informal housing in Greece as well as the observed differentiations in informal housing patterns across space. The spatial level of analysis is the prefectural administrative level. The results of the multinomial logistic regression analysis indicate that Greek prefectures differ in the way they experience the informal housing phenomenon. An explanation for the observed differences may be the separate development paths followed and the diverse range of economic activities in each prefecture. The Greek state has not made provisions for creating the necessary ‘urban land stock’ in each prefecture, so that everyone interested can find land parcels at an affordable price. On the contrary, the state encourages the informal housing activity by legalizing large areas of such activity sporadically and by introducing legislative initiatives of limited success in dealing with the problem.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

ABBOTT, J. and DOUGLAS, D. (2003), ‘The Use of Longitudinal Spatial Analyses of Informal Settlements in Urban Development Planning’, Development Southern Africa, 20 (1), pp. 3–19.
Google Scholar

DAVIS, M. (1992), Beyond Blade Runner: Urban Control – The Ecology of Fear, Westfield: Open Magazine Pamphlet Series.
Google Scholar

DIMOPOULOU, E. and ZENTELIS, P. (2008), ‘Informal Constructions within a Spatial Development Framework’, Technika Chronika Scientific Journal of the TCG, 1 (1–2), pp. 57–72.
Google Scholar

CLARK, C., WILSON, F. and BRADLEY, J. (1969), ‘Industrial Location and Economic Potential in Western Europe’, Regional Studies, 3 (2), pp. 197–212.
Google Scholar

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE (ECE), (2008), In Search for Sustainable Solutions for Informal Settlements in the ECE Region: Challenges and Policy Responses, Geneva: Committee on Housing and Land Management.
Google Scholar

FLOOD, J. (2000), ‘Sydney Divided: Factorial Ecology Revisited. Residential Differentiation Australian Cities’, ANZRSA Annual Meeting, Hobart, September.
Google Scholar

GIANNAKOUROU, G. and BALLA, E. (2006), ‘Planning Regulation, Property Protection, and Regulatory Takings in the Greek Planning Law’, Washington University Global Studies Law Review, 5 (3), pp. 535–557.
Google Scholar

HALL, P. and HAY, D. (1980), Growth Centres in the European Urban System, London: Heineman.
Google Scholar

KAIMOWITZ, D. and ANGELSEN, A. (1998), Economic Models of Tropical Deforestation: A Review, Jakarta: Centre for International Forestry Research.
Google Scholar

KAPOOR, M. and BLANC, D. (2008), ‘Measuring Risk on Investment in Informal (Illegal) Housing: Theory and Evidence from Pune, India’, Regional Science and Urban Economics, 38 (4), pp. 311–329.
Google Scholar

KEEBLE, D., OWENS, P. C. and THOMPSON, C. (1982), ‘Regional Accessibility and Economic Potential in the European Community’, Regional Studies, 16 (6), pp. 419–432.
Google Scholar

KOMBE, W. J. (2000), ‘Regularizing Housing Land Development During The Transition to Market-Led Supply in Tanzania’, Habitat International, 24 (4), pp. 167–184.
Google Scholar

KOMBE, W. J. (2005), ‘Land Use Dynamics in Peri-Urban Areas and Their Implications on the Urban Growth and Form: The Case of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’, Habitat International, 29 (1), pp. 113–135.
Google Scholar

KUMAR, S. (1996), ‘Landlordism in Third World Urban Low-Income Settlements: A Case for Further Research’, Urban Studies, 33 (4–5), pp. 753–782.
Google Scholar

LAW 1337 (1983), ‘Urban Plans Extension, Urban Development and Relevant Arrangements’, Journal of the Greek Parliament, FEK-33/Α.
Google Scholar

LEONTIDOU, L. (1989), Cities of Silence: Working Class Colonisation of Urban Space, Athens and Pireaus 1909–1940, Athens: Cultural and Technological Institution of the National Bank of Industrial Development of Greece (ETBA).
Google Scholar

LEONTIDOU, L. (1995), ‘Repolarization of the Mediterranean: Spanish and Greek Cities in Neo-Liberal Europe’, European Planning Studies, 3 (2), pp. 155–172.
Google Scholar

LEONTIDOU, L., AFOUXENIDIS, A., KOURLIOUROS, E., RONDOS, K. and HATZICHRISTOS, T. (2002), First Greek Annual Report: Causes of Urban Sprawl in Athens and East Attica. 1981–2001, Athens: Hellenic Open University.
Google Scholar

LESSCHEN, J. P., VERBURG, P. H. and STAAL, S. J. (2005), ‘Statistical Methods for Analysing the Spatial Dimension of Changes in Land Use and Farming Systems’, Nairobi-Wageningen: LUCC Report Series 7, LUCC Focus 3 Office, ILRI, Wageningen University.
Google Scholar

LINDEN, J., MEIJER, E. and NIENTIED, P. (1985), ‘Informal Housing in Karachi’, Habitat International, 9 (4), pp. 289–247.
Google Scholar

MAHAPATRA, K. and KANT, S. (2005), ‘Tropical Deforestation: A Multinomial Logistic Model and some Country-Specific Policy Prescriptions’, Forest Policy and Economics, 7 (1), pp. 1–24.
Google Scholar

MALOUTAS, T. (2000), Social and Economic Atlas of Greece, Volos: EKKE, University of Thessaly Press.
Google Scholar

MINETOS, D., POLYZOS, S. and SDROLIAS, L. (2006), ‘Social and Public Responsibility and Illegal Urban Land Uses in Greece: An Empirical Investigation’, Management of International Business and Economic Systems Conference (MIBLE), Larissa: Department of Business Administration, School of Business and Economics, T.E.I. of Larissa.
Google Scholar

MINETOS, D. and POLYZOS, S. (2010), ‘Deforestation Processes in Greece: A Spatial Analysis by Using an Ordinal Regression Model’, Forest Policy and Economics, 12 (6), pp. 457–472.
Google Scholar

MORITA, H., HOSHINO, S., KAGATSUME, M. and MIZUNO, K. (1997), An Application of the Land-Use Change Model for the Japan Case Study Area, Luxemburg: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.
Google Scholar

NEWBURN, D. A., BERCK, P. and MERENLENDER, A. M. (2006), ‘Habitat and Open Space at Risk of Land-Use Conversion: Targeting Strategies for Land Conservation’, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 88 (1), pp. 28–42.
Google Scholar

NORUSIS, M. (2004), SPSS 13, Advanced Statistical Procedures Companion, Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.
Google Scholar

NORUSIS, M. (2005), SPSS 14.0 Statistical Procedures Companion, Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.
Google Scholar

NSSG (1990), Census of Buildings. Hellenic Republic, Athens.
Google Scholar

NSSG (1991), Population Census. Hellenic Republic, Athens.
Google Scholar

NSSG (1996), Tourist Statistics. Hellenic Republic, Athens.
Google Scholar

NSSG (2000), Census of Buildings. Hellenic Republic, Athens.
Google Scholar

NSSG (2001), Population Census. Hellenic Republic, Athens.
Google Scholar

NSSG (2003), Statistical Yearbook of Greece. Hellenic Republic, Piraeus.
Google Scholar

NSSG (2004), Statistical Yearbook of Greece. Hellenic Republic, Piraeus.
Google Scholar

NSSG (2005), Yearly Data on Construction Activity in Greece. Hellenic Republic, Piraeus.
Google Scholar

POLYZOS, S. and ARAMPATZIS, G. (2006), ‘Labour Productivity of Agricultural Sector in Greece: Determinant Factors and Interregional Differences Analysis’, Mediterranean Journal of Economics, Agriculture and Environment, 1, pp. 58–64.
Google Scholar

POLYZOS, S. and MINETOS, D. (2007), ‘Causes and Management Implications in the Greek Coastal Zone from Informal Settlements Development’, [in:] KUNGOLOS, A., ARAVOSSIS K., KARAGIANNIDIS, A., and SAMARAS, P. (eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Environmental Management, Engineering, Planning, and Economics, Skiathos, 24–28 June, pp. 727–732.
Google Scholar

POLYZOS, S. and SOFIOS, S. (2008), ‘Regional Multipliers, Inequalities and Planning in Greece’, South Eastern Europe Journal of Economics, 6 (1), pp. 75–100.
Google Scholar

POTSIOU, C. and IOANNIDIS, C. (2006), ‘Informal Settlements in Greece: The Mystery of Missing Information and the Difficulty of Their Integration into a Legal Framework’, 5th FIG Regional Conference: Promoting Land Administration and Good Governance, Accra.
Google Scholar

ROY, A. (2005), ‘Urban Informality: Toward an Epistemology of Planning’, Journal of the American Planning Association, 71 (2), pp. 147–158.
Google Scholar

SASSEN, S. (1991), The Global City: New York, London, Tokyo, Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Google Scholar

SASSEN, S. (2003), ‘Globalization or Denationalization?’, Review of International Political Economy, 10 (1), pp. 1–22.
Google Scholar

SETHURAMAN, S. V. (1985), ‘Basic Needs and the Informal Sector: The Case of Low-Income Housing in Developing Countries’, Habitat International, 9 (314), pp. 299–316.
Google Scholar

SIETCHIPING, R. (2004), ‘Calibration and Validation of a Proposed Informal Settlement Growth Model’, 7th AGILE Conference on Geographic Information Science, Heraklion.
Google Scholar

SMART, A. (2001), ‘Unruly Places: Urban Governance and the Persistence of Illegality in Hong Kong’s Urban Squatter Areas’, American Anthropologist, 103 (1), pp. 30–44.
Google Scholar

SMITH, M. P. (1980), The City and Social Theory, Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
Google Scholar

SUSSER, I. (1996), ‘The Construction of Poverty and Homelessness in US Cities’, Annual Review of Anthropology, 25, pp. 411–435.
Google Scholar

TANASESCU, A., CHUI WING-TAK, E. and SMART, A. (2010), ‘Tops and Bottoms: State Tolerance of Illegal Housing in Hong Kong and Calgary’, Habitat International, 34 (4), pp. 478–484.
Google Scholar

UN-HABITAT (2003), The Challenge of Slums: Global Report on Human Settlements, London: Earthscan.
Google Scholar

UN-HABITAT (2005), Addressing the Challenge of Slums, Land, Shelter Delivery and the Provision of and Access to Basic Services for all: Overview, Nairobi: UN-Habitat Regional Office for Africa and Arab States.
Google Scholar

UN-HABITAT (2010), Informal Urban Development in Europe – Experiences from Albania and Greece, Nairobi: United Nations Human Settlements Programme.
Google Scholar

WARD, P. M. and PETERS, P. A. (2007), ‘Self-help Housing and Informal Homesteading in Peri-Urban America: Settlement Identification Using Digital Imagery and GIS’, Habitat International, 31 (2), pp. 205–218.
Google Scholar

WATERSON, A. (1998), ‘Doing Our Homework: Anthropologists on Homelessness and Housing in the United States’, American Anthropologist, 100 (1), pp. 188–191.
Google Scholar

YPEHODE (2006), Unpublished data on the expantion of urban plans.
Google Scholar

ZELINSKY, W. (1971), ‘The Hypothesis of the Mobility Transition’, Geographical Review, 61 (2), pp. 219–249.
Google Scholar