Aziza Akhmouch: World facing full-scale housing crisis

The world is not just facing a shortage of housing, but a full-scale housing crisis, Aziza Akhmouch, Head of the Cities, Urban Policies and Sustainable Development Division at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), said at an event within the framework of WUF13 in Baku.

Report quotes her as saying even in advanced economies, shortages, unaffordability, or poor-quality housing not only undermine competitiveness but also become a source of social discontent.

"This factor is directly linked to the emergence of a new ‘geography of discontent" and the rise of populism in a number of countries. What we have heard over the past two days in Baku is that the credibility of public policy is now measured not by statements, but by real results. As an organization whose mission is to help governments design better policies for better lives, we are closely monitoring this issue. There is no area where the situation is as visible and politically sensitive as in the housing sector," she emphasized.