Exploring Alternative Housing Policies for Urban Ecuador: An Implementation of the Housing Quality Model

摘要

The Housing Quality Model (HQM) is a tool for exploring and evaluating alternative policies for improving housing conditions in developing countries. The paper explains the use of the HQM for Ecuador's two major urban areas - Quito and Guayaquil. Key decisions are described regarding the scope of HQM implementation for Ecuador, as well as necessary modifications to HQM data requirements and logic. Results are presented to five alternative policy scenarios, each of which is simulated for both of the cities under three possible economic environments. The scenarios include: maintaining currently scheduled programs, improving urban water service, enhancing access to formal financing, expanding the involvement of savings and loan institutions in housing finance, and addressing the housing needs of low-income renters. The simulations indicate that the single most effective initiative would be to reduce the cost of serviced land in Quito and Quayaquil and to substantially increase the rate at which water connections are extended to occupied dwellings.