Based on actual spatial needs there would seem to be a case for changing homes more often than how often people move in practice; e.g. to respond to where a new job is located in the area, having partners or kids who then move out, etc.
How does economics look at this? I've been thinking of these angles:
- Economic transaction costs (taxes, movers, brokers) - but would one want to move regularly even if all these were low?
- Transaction costs given the specificity of each dwelling situation (hard to assess relative values)?
- Formation of social capital (neighbours, etc.) in the dwelling process that cannot be transferred to a new dwelling situation?
- Formation of "mental" capital - the need to learn new habits inside and outside the new dwelling, e.g. routines, commute, etc.
