This document outlines a lecture on building economics for a third year architecture course. It discusses the construction industry and its relationship to the economy. Specifically, it notes that the construction industry provides physical facilities for other activities, is affected by economic factors like demand, and has a large dependence on government projects. It also describes the complexity of the construction industry, noting it consists of subsectors and projects with multiple stages from conception to completion.
This document outlines a lecture on building economics for a third year architecture course. It discusses the construction industry and its relationship to the economy. Specifically, it notes that the construction industry provides physical facilities for other activities, is affected by economic factors like demand, and has a large dependence on government projects. It also describes the complexity of the construction industry, noting it consists of subsectors and projects with multiple stages from conception to completion.
involved with erection, repair and demolition of buildings and civil engineering structures in an economy
Construction industry & the property
industry are intertwined 5
Introduction cont
The construction industry handles the
constructed-facility production process while the property industry handles the constructed-facility output.
Demand for constructed facilities is satisfied
either through the purchase or lease of a building from the existing stock 6
Introduction cont
The function of the construction industry is
therefore to serve the portion of total demand for constructed space in the economy that cannot be served from the existing stock of constructed space.
Role of construction industry
It provides constructed physical facilities
which provide space where other activities
may take place
The monetary value of all the buildings & civil
engineering works produced by the industry in a given period of time, normally 1yr is referred to as the gross output of the constr. industry 8
Construction industry & the Economy
The construction industry affects & is
affected by the economy
The interrelationships between the industry
& the economy stem from three distinct characteristics of the industry: Size; investment goods; Government is a client for a large part of its work 9
Construction industry & the Economy
Size is important because changes in output
of the construction industry have a significant
effect on the size of the national product both directly and indirectly. If the output of the industry is down, total investment is down, and the investment is of vital concern to the health of the nation. 10
Construction industry & the Economy
It provides an investment good means that it is
subject to fluctuations in demand, for most of
its products will be required only if certain other factors are favorable, e.g the expected sales of goods, which a factory would produce the availability of mortgages for house purchase the economic climate in which government takes decisions about the level of social services 11
Construction industry & the Economy
The dependence on government as a client
means that government is able to influence
the demands on the industry by: action on its own proposed projects control of credit and interest rates
12
Construction industry & the Economy
There are 4 main aspects of economic life in
which the construction industry affects & is
affected by the economy
in demand and output
in employment and incomes in balance of payments in the level of prices.
13
Complexity of the construction industry
It may be assumed to consist of sub sectors,
each sub-sector consisting of numerous
projects, and each project involving different stages of activities from project conception to completion.