Homeownership and civic engagement in Hong Kong

Abstract

This study investigates the causal effects of homeownership on civic behaviors in Hong Kong. Drawing on three waves of data from the Hong Kong Panel Study of Social Dynamics, I show that compared with renters, homeowners are more likely to engage in a wide range of civic activities, such as donating to charity, volunteering, voting and protests. To deal with the common problem of selection bias toward homeowners, I use the outcome of lotteries under the Home Ownership Scheme as an instrumental variable, and find that the results persist. Further analysis demonstrates that the observed effects of homeownership on civic behaviors occur mainly among older people and people with a lower socioeconomic status. These findings enhance understanding of the links between homeownership and a vibrant civil society, with significant implications for the development of policies to promote homeownership in the world’s most crowded cities.

Date of Award	2019
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology