Transformation of Discourse Network in China’s Real Estate Policy - A TF-IDF and CONCOR Approach -

This study empirically examines how China’s real estate policy discourse has been structurally transformed following the adoption of the “Common Prosperity” strategy in 2020. Drawing on unstructured text data collected from Chinese online platforms (Baidu, CNKI, and Weibo) during the periods 2016.1.1.–2020.12.31 and 2021.1.1.–2025,4.30 the study applies text mining techniques— specifically TF-IDF and CONCOR analyses—to identify shifts in policy language and discourse networks. The findings reveal a significant transition from supply- and control-centered discourse before the policy to demand-driven and welfare-oriented language afterward. Notably, keywords such as “market,” “monetary policy,” and “speculation” dominated the earlier period, while “home purchase,” “resident,” “deed tax,” and “health” emerged as focal points post-policy. Additionally, the structure of discourse shifted from a centralized governance narrative to a more complex, multi-actor, and ideologically framed network. These results contribute to discourse-based policy studies by demonstrating how ideological framing and language structure evolve with strategic policy shifts. The study also offers implications for localized implementation, integrated tax-welfare approaches, and future methodological directions in policy discourse analysis.