Housing in China: Institutional Cornerstone and Demographic Shackle for Family Formation

China's housing system has undergone profound changes, and its core function has transcended its mere residential attributes, it has become a key institutional foundation for shaping family structure and population development. With the advancement of urbanization and marketization, housing not only serves as the material space for families but also deeply influences social foundations such as intergenerational support and marriage and childbearing decisions. However, the current housing system is increasingly at odds with the rapidly changing trends of family downsizing, low birth rates, and an aging population, as well as diverse housing needs. Rising housing costs, structural gaps in affordable housing, and institutional barriers are quietly transforming into significant obstacles that inhibit family formation and development and exacerbate population structure contradictions. It is imperative to examine their deep-seated impacts and optimization directions from the perspective of institutional interdependence.