Strategic choice in the Irish housing system: Taming complexity

Abstract

This article examines the strategy choices of various agents in the housing system in the Republic of Ireland with a view to understanding the range of choices and the environmental factors that drive strategy and outcomes in the housing domain. Using a complex adaptive systems (CAS) framework, the strategic decisions in 50 different organisations are analysed to identify types of agents, strategies employed, and decision factors. In addition, the system outcomes that both affect and are affected by agent behaviour are identified. The careful elaboration of each of these components of the housing system provides insight into the dynamics of a ‘whole’ system of housing that spans public, private and non-profit providers as well as those organisations involved in influencing housing policy. As such, the article applies a new analytical framework to the phenomena of policy networks in housing.