The neoliberal roots of the current crisis

This chapter outlines how Ireland is an interesting case through which to understand housing, because of its particular history. It shows that housing crises are not new, nor are they universal, either within countries or across different countries. It explores different philosophies of housing, from Keynesianism to neoliberalism. It details Ireland’s housing history, from early state intervention in favour of tenant farmers, and responses to the housing crisis of the early years of the Irish free State through building public council housing. It details local authority housing expansion through the 20th Century, producing high-quality homes and neighbourhoods. It also details the neoliberal housing shift internationally, as a dramatic shift took place in the economic order in the late 1970s and the 1980s. It then introduces the concepts of financialisation and marketisation in housing, and explains ho w neoliberalism unfolded in the Irish housing system. It then details the Irish housing boom and bust of the 2000s. It ends with an overview of cost rental housing: unitary and dualist housing systems, to understand the Irish housing system.