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The curious incidence of rent subsidies: Evidence of heterogeneity from administrative data

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  • Brewer, Mike
  • Browne, James
  • Emmerson, Carl
  • Hood, Andrew
  • Joyce, Robert

Abstract

This paper provides new evidence on the incidence of rent subsidies. We use administrative panel data on subsidy recipients in the UK and exploit a natural experiment in which entitlements were cut for about a million households. In the short-run, about 90% of the incidence of the cuts is found to be on tenants. We also uncover an important dimension of heterogeneity in the balance of incidence between tenants and their landlords. We find that the share of the incidence of the cut that falls on landlords, rather than tenants, is higher in cases where the previous system looked more generous relative to tenants’ likely housing needs. This is informative about the likely incidence of alternative rent subsidy schemes.

Suggested Citation

  • Brewer, Mike & Browne, James & Emmerson, Carl & Hood, Andrew & Joyce, Robert, 2019. "The curious incidence of rent subsidies: Evidence of heterogeneity from administrative data," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juecon:v:114:y:2019:i:c:s0094119019300750
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jue.2019.103198
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    9. C. Grislain-Letrémy & C. Trevien, 2014. "The Impact of Housing Subsidies on the Rental Sector: the French Example," Documents de Travail de l'Insee - INSEE Working Papers g2014-08, Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chapelle, Guillaume & Domènech Arumí, Gerard & Gobbi, Paula Eugenia, 2023. "Housing, Neighborhoods and Inequality," CEPR Discussion Papers 17969, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    2. Roantree, Barra & Slaymaker, Rachel & Doolan, Michael, 2022. "Low income renters and housing supports," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number RS141.
    3. Essi Eerola & Teemu Lyytikäinen, 2021. "Housing Allowance and Rents: Evidence from a Stepwise Subsidy Scheme," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 123(1), pages 84-109, January.
    4. Guillaume BERARD & Alain Trannoy, 2023. "Housing Policy Impacts on Poverty and Inequality in Europe," Working Papers 640, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    5. Dean Hyslop & David Maré, 2022. "The impact of the 2018 Families Package Accommodation Supplement area changes on housing outcomes," Working Papers 22_01, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.
    6. Eerola, Essi & Lyytikäinen, Teemu & Saarimaa, Tuukka & Vanhapelto, Tuuli, 2022. "The Incidence of Housing Allowances: Quasi-Experimental Evidence," Working Papers 149, VATT Institute for Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Housing; Incidence; Subsidy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H22 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Incidence
    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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