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Platform, Anonymity, and Illegal Actors: Evidence of Whac-a-Mole Enforcement from Airbnb

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  • Jian Jia
  • Liad Wagman

Abstract

Airbnb, a prominent sharing-economy platform, offers dwellings for short-term rent. Despite restrictions, some sellers illegally offer their accommodations, taking advantage of a degree of anonymity proffered by the platform to hide from potential enforcement. We study the extent to which enforcement works in Manhattan, one of the most active short-term rental markets, by testing the effects of two recent enforcement events. We find a negative effect on the number of entire-home listings in Manhattan and positive effects on the prices and occupancies of remaining listings following each enforcement event, which suggests that some illegal listings are withdrawn from the market. We demonstrate evidence suggesting that a portion of withdrawn listings reenter the market under the less enforced listing category of private rooms.

Suggested Citation

  • Jian Jia & Liad Wagman, 2020. "Platform, Anonymity, and Illegal Actors: Evidence of Whac-a-Mole Enforcement from Airbnb," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 63(4), pages 729-761.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlawec:doi:10.1086/709243
    DOI: 10.1086/709243
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    Cited by:

    1. Rojanakit, Patcharapar & Torres de Oliveira, Rui & Dulleck, Uwe, 2022. "The sharing economy: A critical review and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1317-1334.
    2. Boto-García, David & Balado-Naves, Roberto & Mayor, Matías & Baños-Pino, José Francisco, 2023. "Consumers' demand for operational licencing: evidence from Airbnb in Paris," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    3. Bibler, Andrew & Grigolon, Laura & Teltser, Keith & Tremblay, Mark, 2024. "Identifying Tax Compliance from Changes in Enforcement: Theory and Empirics," CEPR Discussion Papers 18805, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    4. Martin Falk & Miriam Scaglione, 2024. "Effects of regulations on the Airbnb market in Geneva," Tourism Economics, , vol. 30(3), pages 615-632, May.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • R52 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Land Use and Other Regulations

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