ANNEX IV

U.S. HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS FOR HOUSING AND CONSUMER FINANCE

This Annex describes two surveys the American Housing Survey (AHS) and the

Survey of Consumer Finance (SCF) both of which have been in use for many decades

in the United States for the collection and analysis of household data on housing, housing

finance, consumer finance, and overall income and asset characteristics.  The information

derived from these surveys is used by policy makers and research academicians alike.

As discussed in Section 3.0 of this report, these data underlie a great number of the

investigations into the demand for housing and the demand for mortgage credit.

Section 5.0 of the report sets forth the recommendations stemming from this

study the first of which is the suggestion that Poland undertake, as soon as possible, a

large scale household survey.  The most important rationale for this is that there are

currently no household level data suitable to support the numerous analyses surrounding

housing and consumer credit issues, such as an analysis of mortgage credit.  

It would

certainly be feasible probably most desirable to combine the most important features

of the AHS, the SCF, and some of Poland's key microeconomic surveys into one, ongoing,

nation wide effort.

THE AMERICAN HOUSING SURVEY

1

The American Housing Survey (AHS) focuses on housing and household

characteristics.  The survey started in 1973; national data is collected every other year,

and data for each of 47 selected Metropolitan Areas is collected about every four years,

with an average of 12 Metropolitan Areas included each year.  The national sample

covers, on average, 55,000 homes.  Each metropolitan area sample covers 2,500 or more

homes. All use  personal interviews.  The survey is conducted by the Bureau of the

Census of the U.S. Department of Commerce for the Department of Housing and Urban

Development.

This appendix includes the actual questionnaire used in the administration of the

1995 AHS.  The definitions used in the Questionnaire can also be found in the appendix

of each issue of the 

Current Housing Reports

, which are available at the website of the

Bureau of the Census.

2

1

This information is also available on the Internet at the website of the Bureau of the Census

(http://www.census.gov/hhes/housing/ahstext.html ).

2

Current Housing Reports based on the results of the survey for each metropolitan area can be found

at the Internet address http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/h170sma.html#1996