The Effect of Race on Opinions of Structure and Neighborhood Quality. Annual Housing Survey Studies. No. 5

For over four decades economists, planners and public policymakers have sought a consistent and meaningful way to objectively evaluate housing quality. The goal thus far has proved elusive. While typically We have focused on physical basics, such as complete plumbing, as an objective index of housing quality, there have also been significant demurrers sufficiently so that subjective measures, opinions of residents,are now being tested for their usefulness and reliabi1ity.

In 1940, the first major attempt at gathering housing data was initiated. In this Census, two measures of the state of repairs of the structure were used not needing major repairs and needing major repairs. These measures said nothing of the original construction of a structure -- a shack and small single family home in an equal state of repair were classified similarly.