Housing and Ethnicity in Soviet Tartu

• Main Authors: Hill Kulu, Tiit Tammaru
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Population Research Institute of Väestöliitto 2003-01-01
• Series: Finnish Yearbook of Population Research
• Online Access: https://journal.fi/fypr/article/view/44988

Research on residential and housing inequality in the cities under central planning has a long tradition. However, previous studies have mostly focused on age and social segregation, while ethnic di.fferences have been poorly investigated. This research clarifies the ethnic di.fferences in housing ownership and living conditions in Tartu, Estonia, in the Sovi et period. We use individual-level data from the 1989 census and multivariate analysis. Our analysis shows that, first, non-Estonians had better access ta state housing than Estonians. The ethnic di.fferences decrease, but remain significant when controlling for compositional di.fferences. Second, it appears that Estonians had more living space, while non-Estonians lived in more comfortable conditions. Di.fferences in housing ownership and population composition explain most af the ethnic di.fferences in housing size, but the di.fferences in housingfacilities remain. We argue that both the state policy and the di.fferent traditions and values were responsible for the housing di.fferences between Estonians and non-Estonians in Tartu during the Soviet period. The role af the pre-WWII legacy should be considered as well.