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Hong Kong researcher links low birth rate to quality housing crisis

To boost birth rate, Hong Kong needs to deliver quality housingOpinion | To boost birth rate, Hong Kong needs to deliver quality housing

An advanced researcher named Yang Li presented a study at the University of Hong Kong stating that the city cannot boost its birth rate without delivering quality housing for residents.

The study argues that when people cannot afford babies or decent places to live, social policy must prioritize housing affordability first. This finding matters because Hong Kong faces a critical demographic decline that threatens its long-term economic stability and population sustainability.

  • Hong Kong has one of the highest housing prices to income ratios globally.
  • The city's birth rate dropped below 1.0 per woman in recent years.
  • ZEW is a leading German institute for European economic research.