1. ^aDepartment of Political Science, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen DK-1353, Denmark. E-mail: jlm@ifs.ku.dk
2. ^bInternational Center for Business and Politics, Copenhagen Business School, Steen Blichers Vej 22, Frederiksberg 2000, Denmark. E-mail: ls.cbp@cbs.dk

Abstract

Should housing be considered a social right or a means to wealth? This article compares changes to taxation and housing finance regimes in a liberal market for residential property, Australia, and a corporatist market, Denmark. During the last decade, regulatory changes to taxation and housing finance systems in Australia and Denmark facilitated residential property booms. These reforms, particularly those following financial deregulation, introduced new mortgage instruments and changed economic incentives for selecting residential property as an investment vehicle. The reforms may also be associated with a more general process of transforming taxation and housing finance regimes to favour a conception of housing as a means to wealth rather than as a social right. Political turns to the right in both Australia and Denmark during the creation of their respective property booms assisted this transformation. This articles traces changes in taxation and housing finance regulations for residential property and assesses how they were framed within political discourse. The article concludes by reflecting on the transformation of residential property markets in Australia and Denmark, as well as commenting on the politics to come now that the boom is over.