Residential Mobility and Tenure Changes Among Separated Individuals: A Cross-Country Comparison

Hill Kulu, University of St Andrews
Julia Mikolai, University of St Andrews
Clara Mulder, University of Groningen, Population Research Centre
Roselinde van der Wiel, University of Groningen
Sergi Vidal, Centre for Demographic Studies

This study investigates residential mobility and housing changes among separated and divorced individuals in four countries (Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK) with similar levels of economic development, but different welfare provisions and housing markets. While there are a number of studies examining residential and housing changes related to separation in selected individual countries, only very few have compared patterns across countries. Using longitudinal data and applying Poisson regression models, we study the risk of a housing change of separated men and women in comparison with cohabiting and married individuals. We distinguish between moves due to separation and moves of separated individuals. The analysis shows that in all countries residential mobility levels are highest shortly after separation and they decline gradually as time since separation increases. However, residential mobility levels remain elevated even a year after separation. Separated individuals are most likely to move to privately owned dwellings; social housing is also an important destination in the UK.

Presented in Session 68: Internal Migration and Family Dynamics