Stambena politika i stambene potrebe

The book Housing Policy and Housing Needs (published in 1987 by the Institute for Social Research at the University of Zagreb, featuring the work of authors such as Dr. Srđan Vrcan, Ognjen Čaldarović, Gojko Bežovan, and their associates) represents a key sociological and economic study of housing issues toward the end of the socialist era. The work examines in detail the functioning and scope of the state-directed system of housing construction and allocation in the former Yugoslavia. The authors begin by analyzing the gap between the declared goal—guaranteeing housing as a social right for every citizen—and the actual practice, characterized by shortages, long waiting lists, and pronounced social inequalities. The book methodologically dissects the concept of "housing needs," distinguishing between objective housing standards and the subjective aspirations of citizens and the socioeconomic capabilities of society. Special emphasis is placed on analyzing the social strata that were either privileged or marginalized during the allocation of social housing, as well as on the role of private (individual) construction, which served as a necessary compensatory mechanism. Published amidst the deep economic and social crisis of the late 1980s, the book offered critical insight into the unsustainability of the prevailing housing finance model and signaled the necessity for market and legislative reforms in the housing sector.