| Abstract [eng] |
This study analyzes how housing value influences support for social policy in Lithuania. In a post-socialist context of near-universal homeownership, simple ownership status no longer explains differences in welfare attitudes. Instead, internal stratification among homeowners (especially by property value) becomes crucial. The research explores whether higher-value housing promotes self-reliance and reduces support for collective redistribution, particularly the state pension system. The main objective is to assess whether housing value, as a proxy for financial security, weakens support for the state old-age pension system and its expansion. To achieve this, the study: (1) reviews pension system models and crowding-out/crowding-in theories; (2) examines housing as economic and symbolic capital in post-socialist society; (3) evaluates housing value distribution in Lithuania; (4) conducts a survey experiment to identify causal effects and (5) interprets findings in the context of welfare policy. The hypotheses test whether housing value shapes attitudes toward pensions and taxation: H1 predicts lower support for pensions among high-value homeowners (confirmed). H2 suggests greater support for property tax if allocated to infrastructure (rejected/unstable). H3 predicts lower support for property tax if allocated to pensions (confirmed). H4 expects higher support for defense-related property taxation (rejected). H5 tests whether distrust in the state strengthens opposition for property taxation if allocated to pensions (rejected/unstable). H6 predicts higher subjective financial security among high-value homeowners (confirmed), while H6.1 expects this effect to be stronger among older individuals (rejected). Findings show that housing value acts as a “solidarity barrier,” reducing support for redistributive policies. A clear gap in pension support emerges when individuals identify with high-value assets. The study also reveals fiscal selectivity: respondents are not anti-state but differentiate between “investment” (e.g., infrastructure) and “redistribution” (pensions). While support for infrastructure funding is inconsistent, opposition to pension-related taxation is strong, supporting the crowding-out effect. Housing in Lithuania functions as an ontological security anchor, shaped by a weak rental and social housing sector. This perception is consistent across age groups, indicating that even younger individuals view housing as more reliable than the state. The study also identifies a “mobility effect,” where even imagining high-value ownership shifts attitudes toward self-interest. The lack of moderation by trust suggests material interests dominate over institutional confidence. Overall, the research contributes to asset-based welfare theory by demonstrating how housing wealth influences political attitudes. It highlights growing challenges for pension policy expansion and suggests that property taxes may gain more support when framed as local investment rather than redistribution. Limitations include the online survey format, hypothetical experimental design, and reduced sample size. |
