The financial and sovereign debt crisis has underlined the important role of housing finance in the economy. Risky and short-term mortgage credit contracts as well as securisation were all important causes behind the crisis we are currently experiencing. The volume of housing finance is such that it not only affects individual households and banks, but the stability of the financial system as well. The crisis and falling house prices have also had great effects on housing finance in many countries.

At this seminar, three invited speakers will present various aspects of these developments. Christian König, from Association of Private Bausparkassen e.V. in Berlin, is engaged in EU legislative work and will talk about attempts to establish common regulations for housing finance in the EU. 

König is also the author of SIEPS´ recently published analysis The creation of an internal market for mortgage loans: A never-ending story? Christine Whitehead, Professor at London School of Economics and one of Europe´s most distinguished researchers in the field of housing finance, will discuss changes in installment levels and lending tendencies in EU member states. Alexandra Leonhard, Analyst at The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning and an expert on Swedish housing finance, will outline the situation in Sweden.
 

Speakers
Dr. Christian König, Head of Legal Affairs, Association of Private Bausparkassen e.V., Berlin
Professor Christine Whitehead, Department of Economics, London School of Economics
Dr. Alexandra Leonhard, Analyst, he Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning

Chair
Monika Hjeds Löfmark, Senior Researcher in Economics, SIEPS

Time: Thursday 11 April, 13.00-15.00. Registration/coffee from 12.30
Venue: SIEPS, Fleminggatan 20, Stockholm. NB. New Venue!
Language: English

The seminar is free of charge and open to the public. Each participant will receive a copy of the publication presented.