Compensating for limited private living space through outsourcing of activities? Panel data analysis of the link between living space and spatial behaviour

Abstract

In order to deal with the environmental footprint of housing, researchers call for per capita living space in high-income countries to stabilise or decrease. The concept of housing sufficiency refers to approaches that mitigate living space consumption while ensuring decent housing conditions for everyone. This study investigated, whether there is empiric evidence supporting the idea that residents compensate for limited private living space through outsourcing activities, which could be utilised by sufficiency strategies to encourage downsizings. We examined the link between size of living space and out-of-home activity participation using eating and drinking out (EDO) as an example. To our knowledge, our study is the first to quantitively identify correlations between size of living space and participation in out-of-home activities. Applying dynamic panel data modelling on data of the German Socio-Economic Panel, our results show, that below a threshold of 25 m² of living space (equivalised based on OECD modified scale) downsizings correspond with increases in EDO frequency. These findings need to be cautiously interpreted with regard to policy implications, since over 50 % of people living in 25 m² or less of equivalised living space experience feelings of overcrowding, which could affect their mental health and well-being.