Economic Effects of Non-profit Housing

The non-profit housing associations (GBV) are an important part of the Austrian housing sector, but their economic effects have not been sufficiently researched so far. After a conceptual positioning of GBVs between state and private-profit-oriented housing provision, this study provides a comprehensive inventory of GBV activities. Based on this, the direct economic effects of GBV housing for beneficiaries are estimated using machine-learning (random forest) and then incorporated into a macroeconomic Input-Output model (ASCANIO). Compared to a fictitious comparison scenario without GBV, the activities of the non-profit organisations result in positive GDP effects of 600 to 900 million €. The GBVs have a clear dampening effect on the housing cost burden of private households.