Airbnb and Urban Housing Dynamics: Economic and Social Impacts in Greece

This study examines the interplay between Airbnb and gentrification in Thessaloniki and Greece, focusing on their economic and social impacts on urban neighborhoods. Utilizing data from 110 online publications and qualitative insights from ten semi-structured interviews with real estate agents, Airb...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Urban science 2024-09, Vol.8 (3), p.148
Main Authors: Kourkouridis, Dimitris, Rizos, Apostolos, Frangopoulos, Ioannis, Salepaki, Asimenia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Affordability
Airbnb
Consumers
COVID-19
digital capitalism
displacement
Economic aspects
Economic development
Economic growth
Estate agents
Fairness
Gentrification
Greece
Housing market
Housing prices
Informal economy
Long term
Neighborhoods
Pandemics
Prices
Real estate
Real estate agents and brokers
Real property
Rentals
Rents
Scarcity
Sharing economy
Short term
short-term rental
Social aspects
Tax evasion
Tourism
Trade
United Kingdom
Vulnerability
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Summary:This study examines the interplay between Airbnb and gentrification in Thessaloniki and Greece, focusing on their economic and social impacts on urban neighborhoods. Utilizing data from 110 online publications and qualitative insights from ten semi-structured interviews with real estate agents, Airbnb stakeholders, residents, and experts, the research provides a nuanced view of these dynamics. The findings suggest that Airbnb influences housing markets by driving up rental and home prices, potentially exacerbating housing scarcity and displacing vulnerable populations in gentrifying areas. While this aligns with the existing literature, the results remain tentative due to the complexities involved. The trend toward corporate-hosted short-term rentals appears to shift Airbnb away from its original community-focused model, though this shift is still evolving. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced changes, such as a move from short-term to long-term rentals and the conversion of commercial spaces to residential use, impacting neighborhood dynamics. However, these effects may be temporary and do not fully address broader housing issues. While an oversupply of Airbnb accommodations might stabilize rental prices to some extent, its impact on the overall housing crisis remains uncertain. Future research should investigate the long-term effects on housing affordability and social equity, considering the limitations of current findings.
ISSN:2413-8851
2413-8851
DOI:10.3390/urbansci8030148