Children

When New Zealand and Australian couples have children they show a very strong preference for family housing (Figure 1).^[8] Australian research shows 85% of people who live in apartments would rather live in a house.^[9]

American families also prefer family houses, with studies showing that Americans living in multi-family dwellings (apartments etc.) have less children, lowering the demand for schools .^[10] One hundred typical homes generate an average of 54.7 school-aged children; but multifamily homes generate only about two thirds the students, with 36.7 school-aged children per 100 households.^[10] Apartment households have much lower incomes than those living in family houses and are more likely to suffer from poverty related problems such as overcrowding.^[11]

Studies have shown that fertility is highest among couples living in single-family houses and lowest among those residing in apartments.^[12] Experts claim that shortages of family housing can cause low birth rates. “Some have suggested that, like laboratory specimens, Italians have responded to their ever-more-crowded-suburbs and cramped apartments by curbing procreation”.^[13] Children “aren't wanted in the condominia (apartments), in public places where they can disturb”.^[13] “Houses are bigger in the U.S. and generally more available. That may help explain why Americans have more babies”.^[14]

Using a scatterplot (Figure 2) has the advantage that cultural effects are average out, revealing the underlying effect of housing on fertility rates. The correlation value (R=0.81) indicates that there is a strong positive correlation between family housing and fertility rates. Advanced countries that have mostly apartments are typically producing only 2/3rds of the children of countries that have mostly family housing.

Having children sustains culture and is good for the economy. Overall Anglo countries have enough children to be approximately sustainable. New Zealand and the United States produce a slight surplus of children, while Ireland, Australia and the UK have modest deficits.

Skilled migration

New Zealand has a demand for more skilled workers. There is a limited supply of highly skilled migrants available and competition between countries.^[22] Housing is one of the factors affecting migration. "Access to affordable and suitable housing is an indicator of positive settlement in society, and home ownership is an indicator of economic wellbeing and represents an intention of long-term settlement".^[23] To attract highly skilled migrants New Zealand must have desirable living conditions, otherwise they will go somewhere else, such as the United States.

The United Kingdom is by far New Zealand's most important source country of skilled migrants.^[24] British studies show that only 2% of British citizens want to live in a low rise apartment, and only 1% in a high rise apartment block.^[25] The vast majority prefer to live in a house.

British people are also very fond of spending time in the garden, with more than 70% claiming that it improves their quality of life, and half (48%) of whom felt it was the most enjoyable activity above watching TV (33%) and shopping (14%).^[26] A third of Brits also believe that gardens are romantic and can boost their love lives.