The Commodification Gap: Gentrification and Public Policy in London, Berlin and St. Petersburg

This book demonstrates how gentrification is always entwined with institutions and contextual processes. It introduces the "commodification gap" concept, tested in three researched cases, and expands the possibility of conversations across different urban contexts. It provides an insightful institutionalist perspective on gentrification studies, exploring the relationship between gentrification and institutions in London, Berlin, and St. Petersburg. The book is a valuable resource for researchers and academics in human geography, housing studies, urban sociology, and spatial planning.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 12 May 2022
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

In a meticulously crafted theoretical exploration, this book intricately uncovers the inseparable link between gentrification and institutions, along with the unique contextual dynamics that shape its progression. Matthias Bernt introduces a novel concept, the "commodification gap," which is empirically tested across three thoroughly researched cases. This groundbreaking concept broadens the understanding of gentrification, fostering a multiplicity of perspectives and enabling conversations across diverse urban contexts. This captivating and enriching read is a testament to the author's profound insights and innovative thinking.

Urban studies has found itself caught in a stalemate, oscillating between universalism and particularism. Matthias Bernt, however, is audaciously challenging this deadlock by delineating the precise boundaries between what is universal and what is not. His book, The Commodification Gap, emerges as a pivotal contribution to gentrification studies, as well as to comparative urbanism and urban studies in general.

The Commodification Gap offers an insightful institutionalist perspective on the field of gentrification studies. It delves into the intricate relationship between the workings of gentrification and the institutions that both support and hinder, yet also influence and constrain, its progression in three distinct neighborhoods located in London, Berlin, and St. Petersburg. Matthias Bernt adeptly showcases how diverse institutional arrangements have yielded varying outcomes in terms of facilitating, slowing down, or altering gentrification across different temporal and spatial contexts.

This book is grounded in empirical research conducted in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia, making it one of the pioneering English-language discussions on gentrification in Germany and Russia. It begins by critically examining the limitations of the widely accepted "rent-gap" theory, paving the way for a fresh and nuanced understanding of gentrification dynamics.

In conclusion, The Commodification Gap is a groundbreaking work that offers a profound institutionalist lens through which to examine gentrification. Through its meticulous exploration of the interplay between gentrification, institutions, and contextual processes, the book expands our understanding of this complex urban phenomenon. It is a must-read for scholars, researchers, and policymakers interested in comprehending the dynamics of urban change and the role of institutions in shaping gentrification processes.

Weight: 396g
Dimension: 228 x 154 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781119603054