How to do a quick reading of an academic article for doing a Housing Studies assignment: an illustration

 

How to do a quick reading of an academic article for doing a Housing Studies assignment: an illustration

“Housing affordability: Proper Measurement for Informed Policy Making” Gennadi Kazakevitch & Luc Borrowman (2009). A paper. Business and Economics, Monash University.

My comments are made in the form of remarks # in the article abstract as follows:

Abstract: The broadly accepted housing affordability indicator [remark 1: the key analytical concept to examine] is calculated as the housing cost-to[1]income ratio. But this only takes into consideration two averaged variables: household housing costs and household income, both of which are ambiguous and misleading as an across-the-board average. [remark 2: the research gap identified] An alternative system of housing affordability measurement is suggested in this paper based on disposable income left after accounting for housing expenses [remark 3: the research objective that indicates originality value/ academic value]. In contrary to the broadly used conventional indicator, the proposed measurement takes into account different income groups, ages and types of households as well as the level of housing consumption. This indicator, combined with the "after housing poverty line" allows for the singling out of groups of households most in need of housing help, and therefore develop more informed housing polices. [remark 4: the research objective that indicates originality value/ academic value]. Based on the proposed system of measurement, an extensive empirical work is presented using the series of the ABS Income and Housing Surveys. [remark 5: research method used in this study] The results demonstrate, from a new angle, the dynamics of housing affordability in Australia during the recent decade which leads to policy implications different to polices currently in use. Key words: Housing affordability measurement, income after housing costs [remark 6: hints at main findings, research achievement and research finding implications]. JEL Classifications: H20, H12, R31, R38.

Suggestion on academic article reading for doing assignments:

1. Identify the key analytical concept considered in the article: An improved housing affordability measurement method.

2. Research gap analysis: the existing housing affordability measurement methods have limitations, suggesting room for measurement methods improvement.

3. Practical, originality and academic value of the study: An improved housing affordability measurement is proposed and its value demonstrated via a research method employment (specific empirical findings).

4. Your decision on how to use the information from points 1-3 [for  your own assignment work] to : (i) shape the formulation of your research objective, (ii) inform your assignment research design, and (iii) enables your theory-driven analysis on your assignment research findings.