Housing Subsidies: Effects on Housing Decisions, Efficiency, and Equity / Harvey S. Rosen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rosen, Harvey S.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w1161.

NBER working paper series no. w1161

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Other Title:

Housing Subsidies

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 1983.

Summary:

This paper surveys the effects of two of the most important federal policies toward housing: the "implicit subsidy" for owner-occupied housing in the income tax code, and the provision of housing for low income families at rents below cost. Emphasis is placed on the methodological problems that arise in attempts to assess the efficiency and distributive implications of these programs.Section 1 critically discusses the rationalization for a government housing policy. Section 2 investigates the econometric problems associated with estimating the effects of government policy upon housing decisions.The federal tax treatment of owner-occupation and how it affects the cost and demand for homeownership are discussed in Section 3. In Section 4, the positive and normative implications of U.S. policies for low income housing are evaluated.The conclusion notes that the policies under concern have led to a greater than efficient amount of housing consumption, and have on net probablyl ed to a more unequal distribution of income.

Notes:

Print version record

June 1983.