Beyond the bloc(k): unpacking residential choices in the Bucharest-Ilfov metropolitan area

Abstract

This study explores how dwelling and neighbourhood characteristics, along with socioeconomic factors, influence residential preferences within the Bucharest-Ilfov Metropolitan Area in Romania. Building on the literature of post-socialist urban transformation, this work adds to the quantitative understanding of residential choice by examining the trade-offs individuals make when evaluating hypothetical housing scenarios. Using a stated preferences experiment with 1,004 respondents, the analysis reveals a strong preference for homeownership, detached housing, and mixed-use neighbourhoods. These findings indicate a strong desire to move beyond the standardized, high-density housing model of the socialist era, indicating a growing demand for low-density suburban living. Housing cost, commuting time, and access to public transport significantly influence acceptance of a location, while higher-income and private sector respondents are more likely to consider moving. The findings highlight a disconnection between residential aspirations and the realities of affordability, infrastructure, and governance. In the absence of strategic land-use and mobility planning, current preferences may exacerbate urban sprawl and reinforce social segregation. By quantifying the specific trade-offs that drive residential choice, this study provides critical evidence to inform more effective land-use and housing policies in rapidly evolving urban regions.