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Short Abstract

Embedded in Barcelona’s public libraries, we ran pop-up housing games where neighbors faced dynamic rents under regulated vs unregulated rules. Findings show coordination patterns and lived perceptions; citizen-generated data and open models informing the Catalan rent debate.

Abstract

Jocs per l’Habitatge (Games for Housing) is the result of a co-creation process with users and professionals from the public libraries of Olesa de Montserrat, Granollers, and Fort Pienc (Barcelona). Participants first identified a pressing social concern: housing access. Affordable housing has become one of the most urgent challenges, with rising rents and limited supply. Together, library users, professionals, and academic researchers framed a research question aligned with current debates on rent regulation following the recent Catalan law, which establishes reference price indices and sets both maximum and minimum rent values. Neighbors were invited to outdoor public spaces next to each library for a pop-up behavioral experiment. In groups of six, participants played a “housing game” simulating renting opportunities under dynamic prices: if at least one participant accepted the rent offer, the price increased in the next round; if none accepted, the price decreased. Regulated and unregulated price environments were tested. Basic results were discussed locally, and a public report was issued. We have since revisited the dataset using new scientific methods and models to exploit this unique citizen-generated data. Our analysis explores how the urgency of housing access is perceived and identifies distinct behavioral patterns. This work highlights both the potential and limitations of ad hoc citizen experiments. Despite smaller sample sizes compared to conventional behavioral studies, the direct connection of participants to the local problem gives the data exceptional relevance. Advanced modelling techniques extracts meaningful insights and contribute scientific arguments to the public debate on housing price regulation.