Wohnmobilität in der Großregion – eine interurbane Diskursanalyse mit Fokus auf den Städten Arlon, Thionville und Trier.

Doctoral thesis (2017)

Effects of residential mobility moulding in uneven development in border regions can be perceived very differently by city councils or planners and the local population. This dissertation focuses on the ... [more ▼]

Effects of residential mobility moulding in uneven development in border regions can be perceived very differently by city councils or planners and the local population. This dissertation focuses on the perceptions of population mobility and dwelling in a transnational cross-border polycentric region in western Europe. The economic development of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg calls for a constant expansion of the labour market, attracting cross-border commuters and highly mobile professional elites. The concomitant rises in property prices as well as the extreme housing shortages in Luxembourg have led to an expansion of the housing market into the border regions. So far studies have mostly dealt with the socio-demographic characteristics of the transmigrants. This research aims to detect people’s perceptions of the phenomenon by applying a discourse analysis, thus aiming to trigger an increasing awareness for the emerging transnational housing market. [less ▲]

Internationalisierung des Wohnens in Luxemburg – Vom empirischen Fall zum Modell

Presentation (2017, June 15)

Aufgrund der sozioökonomischen und räumlichen Entwicklung des Großherzogtums ist der luxemburgische Wohnungsmarkt seit mehr als zwei Jahrzehnten vor allem durch ausgeprägte und dauerhafte Knappheiten und ... [more ▼]

Aufgrund der sozioökonomischen und räumlichen Entwicklung des Großherzogtums ist der luxemburgische Wohnungsmarkt seit mehr als zwei Jahrzehnten vor allem durch ausgeprägte und dauerhafte Knappheiten und hohe Kauf- und Mietpreise gekennzeichnet. Etliche Städte und Metropolregionen in Europa zeigen ähnliche Tendenzen auf. Spezifisch für unseren Fall sind jedoch erstens die geringe Größe des Landes sowie zweitens die fortwährenden wirtschaftlichen und demografischen Dynamiken, sie sich zum Teil in sehr starken grenzüberschreitenden, internationalen und sogar globalen Verflechtungen ausdrücken. Die Relevanz der „Internationalisierung“ des Wohnens in (und um) Luxemburg in all ihren Facetten ist allerdings nicht nur aus politischer und soziokultureller Sicht gegeben. Wegen seiner Besonderheit war der Fall in der Vergangenheit auch immer wieder Gegenstand wissenschaftlicher Untersuchungen. Bis auf einige wenige Ausnahmen waren diese Studien meist quantitativ angelegt und beschränkten sich vor allem auf die durch die sozioökonomischen Entwicklungen verursachten räumlichen Effekte der Internationalisierung des Wohnens. So wurden zwischen seit Mitte der 2000er Jahre z.B. mehrere Studien über Grenzpendlerströme und deren Auswirkungen auf das Wirtschaftswachstum, die Mobilität und das Wohnen in Luxemburg durchgeführt. Auch das Ausmaß und die Beweggründe für den Abzug von im Großherzogtum lebenden luxemburgischen und ausländischen Bürgern in das grenznahe Ausland wurde im Detail erforscht. Der luxemburgische Immobilienmarkt ist durch eine sehr dynamische Entwicklung und einen hohen Grad an Internationalität gekennzeichnet ist. Unser Beitrag zielt hauptsächlich darauf ab, die bisher vorherrschende wissenschaftliche Debatte über die Frage der Internationalisierung des Luxemburger Wohnungsmarktes erneut zu öffnen und sie um den Aspekt der Governance zu erweitern. Auf diese Weise sollen einerseits der Begriff der „Internationalisierung“ mit seinen z.T. sehr unterschiedlichen Wirkungsweisen im Bereich des Wohnens in Luxemburg differenzierter ergründet und andererseits neue Forschungsansätze entwickelt werden. Unsere Aussagen beruhen im Wesentlichen auf der Auswertung von Dokumenten und Sekundärmaterial zum Thema sowie der aktiven Mitwirkung an relevanten Fachdiskussionen zum Thema Wohnen in Luxemburg. [less ▲]

Tracing the place of home. The specificities, policies and dilemmas of Luxembourg’s housing sector

in Ballini, Claude; Ecker, Serge; Grünkranz, Daniel (Eds.) et al Tracing Transitions (2017)

Wohnen im Grenzraum – Zusammenführung der Transnational Studies und der Border Studies

Presentation (2016, September)

Mobility and neighbourhood dynamics in border regions - towards an inter-urban discourse analysis

Scientific Conference (2016, April)

This paper focuses on the perceptions of population mobility and dwelling in a crossborder polycentric region in Western Europe. The economic development of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg calls for a ... [more ▼]

This paper focuses on the perceptions of population mobility and dwelling in a crossborder polycentric region in Western Europe. The economic development of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg calls for a constant expansion of the labor market, attracting cross-border commuters and a ‘highly mobile elite’. The rises in property prices as well as the extreme housing shortages in Luxembourg have led to an expansion of the housing market into the border regions. While previous studies have so far mostly dealt with the socio-demographic characteristics of the transmigrants, this research aims to detect perceptions of the phenomenon by applying a discourse analysis. To do so, guiding principles of municipal policy, urban planning documents and the local media of three medium sized towns in the borderland (Belgium, France, Germany) are being analyzed. Furthermore stakeholder interviews are conducted to gain deeper insights into individual perceptions. A review of recent media coverage reveals that the situation is characterized by a sort of love-hate relationship. Depending on the context, the case is constructed rather differently by city councils or planners and the local population and even within the same social arena. In a public-private-partnership new city quarters are developed for luxury housing and in the contested draft of the land development plan residential areas with a good connectivity to Luxembourg are foreseen. While in parallel city officials also report displacement. A social constructionist approach is adopted to trigger an increasing awareness for the emerging transnational housing market and changing social-spatial divisions. [less ▲]

Dwelling trends in border regions - towards an inter-urban discourse analysis

Scientific Conference (2015, June)

Effects of population mobility resulting from uneven development in border regions can be perceived very differently by city councils or planners and the local population. This paper focuses on the ... [more ▼]

Effects of population mobility resulting from uneven development in border regions can be perceived very differently by city councils or planners and the local population. This paper focuses on the perceptions of the effects of population mobility and dwelling in a transnational cross-border polycentric metropolitan region in Western Europe. The economic development of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg calls for a constant expansion of the labour market, attracting cross-border commuters and a ‘highly mobile elite’. The concomitant rise in property prices as well as the extreme housing shortages in Luxembourg have led to an expansion of the housing market into the border regions. So far studies have mostly dealt with the socio-demographic characteristics of the transmigrants. This research aims to detect people’s perceptions of the phenomenon by applying a discourse analysis, thus helping to trigger an increasing awareness for the emerging transnational housing market. [less ▲]

Residential mobility in cross-border regions – an inter-urban discourse analysis

Scientific Conference (2015, April)

Effects of cross-border mobility resulting from uneven development in border regions can be perceived very differently by city councils or planners and the local population. This paper focuses on the ... [more ▼]

Effects of cross-border mobility resulting from uneven development in border regions can be perceived very differently by city councils or planners and the local population. This paper focuses on the consequences of the cross-border mobility in relation to housing markets in four cities in a transnational cross-border polycentric metropolitan region in Western Europe. It applies Clarke’s situational analysis and Keller’s sociology of knowledge approach to discourse, in order to represent the complexity and contradictions going along with this development. These approaches intend to supplement grounded theory (mainly based on Strauss) and include discourse analysis inspired by Foucault. Until now, the study of cross-border mobility focused mainly on the motives of citizens that left their country of origin to dwell in the close by border regions, while the related impacts on neighboring communities remain mostly unexplored. A quick review of recent media coverage could easily lead one to describe the situation as a sort of love-hate relationship. The demand-induced increase of the housing prices and the coexistence of old and new settlements lead to social tensions and new challenges of integration within the respective communities. At the same time, in urban development concepts, the increase of citizens is considered as an opportunity for the development of the cities. Analytic cartographies are employed to show that similar effects can be perceived quite differently. [less ▲]

Wohnmobilität in der Großregion - eine interurbane Diskursanalyse

E-print/Working paper (2015)

“Je t’aime, moi non plus” : this is how the French newspaper L’Express (2011, p. II) summarises the transnational linkages of Luxembourg with its neighbouring countries. On the one hand, the ‘economic ... [more ▼]

“Je t’aime, moi non plus” : this is how the French newspaper L’Express (2011, p. II) summarises the transnational linkages of Luxembourg with its neighbouring countries. On the one hand, the ‘economic engine’ Luxembourg offers workplaces for many commuters, positively affecting the development of this European cross-border polycentric metropolitan region; on the other hand, negative consequences such as the overcrowded real estate mar-ket in Luxembourg continue beyond the national border and affect neighbouring housing markets. The ‘2020 Concept for the Region Trier’ shows that city councils perceive the prox-imity to Luxembourg as an opportunity for the development of the city. Simultaneously, lo-cals might feel displaced due to increasing rents and house prices, and develop resentment vis-à-vis their new neighbours, coming either from Luxembourg, or being Belgian, German or French nationals (labour migrants) that have moved to the border region to work in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, thus disposing of higher purchase power. Depending on the context, similar effects can thus be perceived very differently by city councils or planners and the local population. So far, studies dealing with the processes of transmigration have mostly focussed on indi-vidual motives of migrants, whereas impacts on the regions of destination have not been explored. The aim of this study is to explore ongoing discourses dealing with spatial impacts in relation to urban housing markets within the Greater Region. The focus will be on the cit-ies Arlon (BE), Metz and Thionville (FR), and Trier (DE). Therefore mixed methods will be de-ployed. Firstly, a quantitative analysis is planned to reveal the magnitude and the spatial distribution of the (cross-border) residential mobility. The evolution of housing prices and rents as well as population dynamics will be examined. Secondly, ongoing discourses and the changes of life-worlds will be studied using quantitative methods as well as qualitative methods, such as content analysis, to review the guiding principles of municipal policy and urban planning documents. A quantitative analysis of local newspapers will be conducted to analyse public opinion. A content analysis of this material will follow. The method mix allows us to better understand “material” evolutions and to trace the current discourses within this field. Discourse approaches have become common in interdis-ciplinary social science academic research. However, there are no established theoretical and methodological guidelines for applying these approaches. This project has to deal with this situation and to take into account different cultural backgrounds and discussion levels. This study will help to frame today’s situation and aims to develop sustainable solutions for future urban planning. [less ▲]

Consequences of the internationalisation of housing markets within the Greater region – an inter-urban discourse analysis

Scientific Conference (2014)

“Je t’aime, moi non plus” (“I love you... nor do I”): this is how the newspaper L’Express (2011, p. II) summarises the relationship of Luxembourg to its neighbouring countries. On the one hand, the ... [more ▼]

“Je t’aime, moi non plus” (“I love you... nor do I”): this is how the newspaper L’Express (2011, p. II) summarises the relationship of Luxembourg to its neighbouring countries. On the one hand, the ‘economic engine’ Luxembourg offers workplaces for many commuters, positively affecting the development of this European cross-border polycentric metropolitan region; on the other hand, negative consequences such as the overcrowded real estate market in Luxembourg do not end at the national border and affect neighbouring housing markets. The ‘2020 Concept for the Region Trier’ (‘Zukunft Trier 2020’) shows that city councils perceive the proximity to Luxembourg as a chance for the development of the city (Stadt Trier/MICIC & Partner 2004). Simultaneously, locals might feel displaced due to increasing rents and house prices, and develop resentment vis-à-vis their new neighbours, coming either from Luxembourg or being nationals that moved to the border region to work in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, thus disposing of higher purchase power. Depending on the context, similar effects can thus be perceived very differently by city councils or planners and the local population. The aim of this study is to explore the consequences of the internationalisation of the housing markets within the Greater region, with a focus on the surrounding cities Arlon (BE), Metz and Thionville (FR), and Trier (DE). Therefore mixed methods will be deployed. Firstly, a quantitative analysis is planned to reveal the magnitude and the spatial distribution of the (cross-border) residential mobility. Secondly, ongoing discourses and the changes of life-worlds will be studied by reviewing guiding principles of municipal policy and urban planning documents. A quantitative analysis of local newspapers will be conducted to reflect public opinion. Discourse approaches have become common in interdisciplinary social science academic research. However, common theoretical and methodological guidelines do not exist. This project has to deal with this situation and to take into account various cultural backgrounds, heterogeneous language areas and different discussion levels. This study will help to frame today’s situation and foresees to develop sustainable solutions for future urban planning. References Express (L’) (2011): Metz, Moselle. Nos amis les Luxembourgeois. N° 3152, 2/12/2011. Stadt Trier & MICIC & Partner (2004): Strategisches Stadtkonzept „Zukunft Trier 2020“. Trier. [less ▲]