The gender dimension of homeownership: Evidence from China

This paper presents findings on the relationship between gender and three key housing asset indicators in China: homeownership, second homeownership, and housing asset value. The analysis also considers whether having a son modifies the relationship between gender of the household head and the housing asset indicators. The empirical analysis found that male household heads are more likely to have homeownership, female household heads are more likely to own a second home, and female homeowners tend to own more expensive homes than male homeowners. These findings are robust across alternative functional forms and variable definitions. The results highlight the importance of exploring the differential likelihood of homeownership and second homeownership as well as disparities in housing asset values from a gender perspective.