Local politicians tend to move unpopular construction projects, such as new apartment buildings, away from their own residential areas.
Something that can increase local inequality and disadvantage less affluent areas.
This is shown by a new study from Stockholm University.
Research shows that politicians are less likely to approve building permits for new multi-family buildings in their own residential areas. According to the researchers, the building permit decisions are decisive for how different areas within a municipality develop. The study was based on data from three mandate periods and all municipalities in Sweden.
– It is clear that politicians place new, unpopular construction projects in areas where they themselves do not live, says Olle Folke, professor of political science at Uppsala University, formerly the Institute for Social Research at Stockholm University, in a press release.
Debated
New multi-family buildings are often controversial because the projects can have a negative impact on light and traffic conditions in an area. In addition, they contribute to increasing the pressure on municipal services in the area, such as childcare and healthcare.
The researchers analyzed municipal elections in which the left-wing or right-wing bloc won by a small margin, which covers approximately 40 percent of Sweden’s municipalities. After an even election, the researchers were able to see that approximately 10 percent fewer building permits are approved in areas where more politicians from the ruling bloc live.
Leads to local inequality
Politicians, regardless of block or municipality affiliation, often live in relatively affluent areas with highly educated high income earners and home owners. This means that less affluent areas are often hit harder when politicians avoid placing potentially unpopular construction projects in their own residential areas. According to the researchers, this pattern may reinforce the existing inequality, where more privileged areas are protected from inconvenient construction projects while less affluent areas are burdened more.
The reasons why politicians want to protect their own areas are several, and may have to do with economic as well as social interests.
– One reason may be that they have better insight into the negative consequences that construction projects can bring with them in their own immediate area. Economic interests, such as protecting the value of one’s home, as well as social factors, such as avoiding criticism from neighbors and acquaintances, can also play a role, says Linna Martén, researcher at the Institute for Social Research at Stockholm University.