Date of Award

8-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Economics

Committee Chair/Advisor

Dr. Devon Gorry

Committee Member

Dr. Babur De los Santos

Committee Member

Dr. Scott Templeton

Abstract

In this thesis I explore the effect of increased investment in the single-family rental sector on inequality and housing affordability. I measure the effect of the single family rental (SFR) share on Gini indices and median rental prices across the largest U.S. cities. I construct three non lagged and three lagged models for each of the two dependent variables. In my analysis of the relationship between SFR shares and inequality, I do not find a significant relationship after accounting for potential reverse causality. However, the relationship between SFR shares and rent prices is shown to be negative and significant once accounting for reverse causality and incorporating comprehensive controls and fixed effects. These results indicate the complexity of the relationship between the growth of single-family rentals and economic issues like inequality and housing affordability. Moreover, the results highlight the importance of considering broader economic and policy contexts in the emerging build to rent sector.

Included in

Econometrics Commons

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