Book Description
This publication is part of a set of 18 documents which have been prepared by H.M. Treasury to inform the assessment of the Government's five economic tests for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) entry into the euro area. In relation to the convergence test, this study looks at evidence on differences in structural aspects of the housing market across the UK and the euro area, and considers the implications for household interest rate sensitivity and consumption. It focuses on four structural aspects: house price trends, mortgage markets, housing tenure, and mortgage equity withdrawl. Whilst it is recognised that past relationships may not be a good guide to what might happen if the UK were to join EMU, the study finds little sign of significant convergence in housing and mortgage markets to date.