The influence of family life cycle on housing needs of people in Bangkok

Abstract

Due to the effects of population changes and changes in household size and number, Bangkok is now facing serious housing problems. The housing demand is growing but the land is constant. Thus, it is necessary to study the population change and housing needs when one examines housing policy in Bangkok. This study will focus on the changing housing needs related to family development over the life cycle of people in Bangkok. The objectives of this study are to: (1) study the population change related to housing needs of people in Bangkok between 1980-1990, (2) study the type of household and living at each family life cycle stage of people in Bangkok, and (3) study factors affecting the housing meeds of people in Bangkok.%After the review of the housing policy, it was found that the direction of the housing development was consistent with the population change and housing needs in Bangkok. There was an increasing mumber of population and houses in the middle and outer zones during 1980-1990 while the mumber of population and houses decreased in the inner zone.%Based on the census data, type of living at the life cycle of Bangkokians between 1980 and 1990 showed that children and the young between 0-19 years old lived with their parents in detached houses and row houses. Most of the working adults between 20-29 years old did not live with their parents. They preferred living in apartments or town houses. After they married (30-39 years old), they lived on their own as a nuclear family in town houses or apatments. When the married couple (40-49 years old) had children and their family became larger, they would then prefer to live in detached houses or row houses. When they became widowed (60 years old and obove), they would live with their children as a larger family in detached houses or row houses. The size of divorced/separated families living in town houses of apartments became smaller%The survey of housing needs of people in Bangkok, their household and living patterns showed that married couples leave their parents' houses and build up their own households as a nuclear family. They select to live in town houses or apartments at the founding stage. When the coupleds have children and become a larger family, they need a lot of space. Their type of living consists of detached houses or row houses. After the children have their own families and their family size becomes smaller, they prefer to live in town houses. At the retirement stage, when they become widowed, they prefer living with their children to living alone in detached houses or row houses.%It is also found that the family life cycle stage variables are significant factors in determining the housing needs of people in Bangkok. The results support the hypothesis of this study and are consistent with the findings of the preceding studies. The people who start their new households want to live in small quarters. The main recommendation is that more town houses and apartments than detached or row houses be built.