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U.S. housing prices and the Fukushima nuclear accident

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  • Fink, Alexander
  • Stratmann, Thomas

Abstract

Did the nuclear catastrophe at Fukushima in March 2011 cause individuals to reappraise the risks they attach to nuclear power plants? We investigate the change in home prices in the U.S. after the Fukushima event to test the hypothesis that home prices in the proximity of power plants fell due to an updated nuclear risk perception. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we do not find evidence in support of the hypothesis that individuals reappraised the risks associated with nuclear power plants. According to our results home prices close to nuclear reactor sites did not fall relative to home prices at other locations in the U.S.

Suggested Citation

  • Fink, Alexander & Stratmann, Thomas, 2015. "U.S. housing prices and the Fukushima nuclear accident," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 309-326.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:117:y:2015:i:c:p:309-326
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2015.07.005
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    Cited by:

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    2. Tao Chen & Youchao Tan & Jinghua Wang & Cheng (Colin) Zeng, 2022. "The Unintended Consequence of Land Finance: Evidence from Corporate Tax Avoidance," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(11), pages 8319-8342, November.
    3. Ando, Michihito & Dahlberg, Matz & Engström, Gustav, 2017. "The risks of nuclear disaster and its impact on housing prices," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 13-16.
    4. Kawaguchi, Daiji & Yukutake, Norifumi, 2017. "Estimating the residential land damage of the Fukushima nuclear accident," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 148-160.
    5. Tajima, Kayo & Yamamoto, Masashi & Ichinose, Daisuke, 2016. "How do agricultural markets respond to radiation risk? Evidence from the 2011 disaster in Japan," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 20-30.
    6. Portillo, Javier E. & Wagner, Gary A., 2021. "Do cultural districts spur urban revitalization: Evidence from Louisiana," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 651-673.
    7. Hsiao, Cody Yu-Ling & Chen, Hsing Hung, 2018. "The contagious effects on economic development after resuming construction policy for nuclear power plants in Coastal China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 291-302.
    8. Daniel Melser, 2023. "The housing market reaction to the combustible cladding crisis: Safety or financial concerns?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(4), pages 620-637, March.
    9. Wen‐Chi Liao & Yilan Luo & Yajie Sun, 2022. "Information shock of disaster and hazard: Impact of Kaohsiung gas explosions and risk disclosure on the equalizing difference in the housing market," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 50(6), pages 1492-1531, November.
    10. Masaru Nagashima & Chikako Yamauchi, 2023. "Pregnant in haste? The impact of foetus loss on birth spacing and the role of subjective probabilistic beliefs," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 1409-1431, December.
    11. Mounir Ben Mbarek & Samia Nasreen & Rochdi Feki, 2017. "The contribution of nuclear energy to economic growth in France: short and long run," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 51(1), pages 219-238, January.
    12. Johane Dikgang & Nomsa P. Nkosi, 2018. "South African attitudes about nuclear power: The case of the nuclear energy expansion," Working Papers 726, Economic Research Southern Africa.
    13. Fredrik Hansson, 2024. "Pricing Radioactive Pollutants: Evidence from the Swedish Housing Market," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 69(4), pages 585-620, November.
    14. Huhtala, Anni & Remes, Piia, 2017. "Quantifying the social costs of nuclear energy: Perceived risk of accident at nuclear power plants," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 320-331.
    15. Welsch, Heinz, 2016. "Electricity Externalities, Siting, and the Energy Mix: A Survey," International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics, now publishers, vol. 10(1), pages 57-94, November.
    16. Bauer, Thomas K. & Braun, Sebastian T. & Kvasnicka, Michael, 2017. "Nuclear power plant closures and local housing values: Evidence from Fukushima and the German housing market," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 94-106.
    17. Bełej, Mirosław & Cellmer, Radosław & Foryś, Iwona & Głuszak, Michał, 2023. "Airports in the urban landscape: externalities, stigmatization and housing market," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    18. Jie Jiao & Yanyang Wang & An Yan, 2024. "Corporate social responsibility and investor relationship management," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 59(3), pages 657-685, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fukushima; Nuclear accident; Hedonic prices; Housing; Updating;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • R31 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Housing Supply and Markets

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