Local Politicians Favor Their Own Neighborhoods in Decisions on New Building Permits

A new study from Stockholm University reveals that local politicians in Sweden are less likely to approve building permits for new apartment buildings in areas where they live. The research indicates that politicians tend to shift unpopular building projects to other parts of the municipality, which can increase local inequality and impact the living environment across the city.

Local politicians can approve or reject building permits within their municipality. These decisions are crucial in determining how different areas develop. A new study based on data from three election periods across all Swedish municipalities shows that politicians tend to protect their own neighborhoods.

Unpopular Building Projects Placed Where Politicians Don't Live

"It's clear that politicians place new, unpopular building projects in areas where they do not live," says Olle Folke, Professor of Political Science at Uppsala University, formerly at the Swedish Institute for Social Research at Stockholm University, and one of the researchers behind the study.

Decisions about new apartment buildings in an area are often controversial, as the buildings can lead to issues like reduced light and increased traffic and added pressure on municipal services such as childcare and healthcare.

The study focuses on municipal elections in which the left- or right-wing blocs won with a narrow margin, covering about 40% of municipalities. After typically close polls, approximately 10% fewer apartment buildings are approved in areas where more politicians from the ruling majority reside.

Consequences for Local Inequality

When analyzing all municipalities, the study shows that both right- and left-wing politicians often live in relatively affluent areas with highly educated, high-income residents and homeowners. Compared to left-wing politicians, however, right-wing politicians are less likely to live in areas with low-income residents and immigrants.

Politicians risk imposing a heavier burden on other, less affluent parts of the municipality by avoiding placing new, potentially unpopular building projects in their own neighborhoods. This pattern could increase inequality within the municipality, where privileged areas are protected while others are burdened with more new building projects.

Possible Explanations

Several factors might explain why politicians choose to protect their own neighborhoods.

"One reason might be that they better understand the negative consequences that building projects can bring to their immediate surroundings. Economic interests, such as protecting the value of their own homes, and social factors, like avoiding criticism from neighbors and acquaintances, may also play a role," says Linna Martén, a researcher at the Swedish Institute for Social Research at Stockholm University and one of the authors of the study.

For more information, contact:

• Olle Folke, Department of Political Science, Uppsala University, Tel: +46 70-367 02 42, Email: [email protected]
• Linna Martén, Swedish Institute for Social Research, Stockholm University, Tel: +46 73-027 90 73, Email: [email protected]
• Johanna Rickne, Swedish Institute for Social Research, Stockholm University, Tel: +46 70-433 73 88, Email: [email protected]
• Matz Dahlberg, Institute for Housing and Urban Research and Urban Lab, Uppsala University, Tel: +46 70-167 91 75, Email: [email protected]