Housing Crisis Paradox: A Comparative Analysis of Malaysia and Spain

Abstract

Housing affordability is a persistent global challenge, shaped by interdependent financial, social, spatial, and governance dynamics. This study compares Malaysia and Spain, revealing systemic paradoxes in which surplus housing coexists with restricted access and costs increasingly outpace incomes. Using qualitative documentary analysis, cross-case comparison, and systems mapping, it identifies shared and context-specific structural contradictions, such as the spatial isolation of affordable units in Malaysia and the low supply of social housing in Spain. Findings highlight that housing crises emerge from complex, reinforcing interactions rather than simple supply shortages, underscoring the need for anticipatory, system-informed, context-sensitive approaches to housing planning.