The period effects of crisis and recovery on life course and residential mobility of owner-occupants

This study examines how the relationship between life course and mobility of owner-occupants is affected by periods of economic and housing market downturn and recovery. The impact of ‘period effects’ are largely unknown. Using Dutch register data, we compare the probabilities of moving in view of partnership, children and employment status for 2012–2014 and 2014–2016. We find that the downturn period is associated with lower mobility, yet the association is different for various household situations. Mobility to ownership in the crisis was particularly constrained for stable couples, employed owners and households with children. Moves to the rental sector were less period sensitive. Only owners who became unemployed were more likely to move into rental during crisis. ‘Delayed mobility’ has been found for moving in together, separation, households who had children, and job change. So, periods of crisis and recovery structure how home-owners adapt to life-course changes. Our findings imply that period effects should be accounted for in residential mobility studies.