Real Estate Circle

Locked-in, locked-out: structural scarcity and distribution effects in the Swiss housing market

The Swiss housing market is increasingly characterized by structural scarcity – not only due to supply, but above all due to issues of allocation and mobility in the portfolio. A decreasing willingness to move, increasing barriers to entry and regulatory framework conditions mean that living space is becoming less and less available where it is in demand. While some households remain in the market and hardly change (locked-in), others cannot find access despite demand and ability to pay (locked-out).

These dynamics influence prices, land use and distribution effects in the housing market and raise key questions about the functionality of existing incentive systems.

At the Real Estate Circle, speakers from academia and practice will discuss how structural scarcity arises, how it is distributed and what prospects are emerging for the Swiss residential market.