Essays in Urban Economics and Public Finance / Rui Yu.

Format:

Book

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Yu, Rui, author.

Contributor:

University of Pennsylvania. Applied Economics, degree granting institution.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Public policy.

Applied Economics--Penn dissertations.

Penn dissertations--Applied Economics.

Local Subjects:

Public policy.

Applied Economics--Penn dissertations.

Penn dissertations--Applied Economics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (134 pages)

Distribution:

Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 2022

Contained In:

Dissertations Abstracts International 84-01A.

Place of Publication:

[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania] : University of Pennsylvania, 2022.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Housing policy poses unique and outsized economic significance. The first chapter, "Returns to Political Contributions in Local Housing Markets" investigates whether firms donate to political campaigns in order to influence supply in local housing markets. Using new data on local campaign donors in the U.S. and a regression discontinuity design in close mayoral elections, I uncover three key findings. Politically connected residential development firms sell more new housing units, consistent with mayors awarding discretionary favors to donors. Favors shape the supply of new housing citywide, as mayors with more residential development donors double permits for new housing construction. But differences in housing policy between mayors are empirically more important than favors for determining local housing supply. The second chapter, "Poverty Alleviation by a Large-Scale Homeownership Program" evaluates whether homeownership alleviates poverty by exploiting a large-scale affordable housing program in Brazil. Linking applicants to administrative data on formal employment, we investigate the impact homeownership has on labor supply, earnings, mobility, occupations, and formalization. Becoming a homeowner reduces wages, increases hours worked, and increases formal labor market participation. New homeowners increase public sector employment and, consistent with the home voter hypothesis, political participation. Expanding homeownership primarily accelerates formalization of the poor.

Notes:

Source: Dissertations Abstracts International, Volume: 84-01, Section: A.

Advisors: Ferreira, Fernando V.; Committee members: Gyourko, Joseph; Meredith, Marc; Sieg, Holger.

Department: Applied Economics.

Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 2022.

Local Notes:

School code: 0175

ISBN:

9798834092063

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.