Georg Gottschalk

What Makes Older People Consider Moving House and What Makes Them Move

The main aim of this study was to determine which factors influence older peoples considerations about moving house and which influence actual mobility, and on this basis to uncover what factors further or hinder considerations about moving house. Multivariate logistic regressions were used on the data, including interview and register information on approximately 6000 people aged between 52 and 77 years in 1997. The results support the theory that decisions to move are influenced by life changes and dissatisfaction with dwellings (the stress threshold model). This theory seems to fit best with considerations about moving as a lack of possible alternative dwellings, an inadequate ability to cope with moving house and the costs of moving seem to weaken the connection between possible dissatisfaction with housing location and actual mobility.

Public participation in the danish planning system —or who decides the contents of the agenda?

Public participation was introduced in the period 1970–1975 at all planning levels of the Danish planning system, i.e. for regional and municipal comprehensive planning and for local district plans and urban renewal plans. This article focuses upon why public participation was introduced at all planning levels, how it was introduced, the distribution and quality of participation, and the progress in quality. Special emphasis is given to the handling of the “agenda problem”, i.e. who decides what is on the agenda when a planning proposal is discussed in public. In conclusion, some prevailing problems and perspectives are outlined.