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The Longevity Benefits of Homeownership

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  • Breen, Casey

Abstract

Owning a home has long been touted as a key component of the idealized “American Dream.” Homeownership is associated with greater wealth and better health, but the causal impact of homeownership on health remains unclear. Using linked complete-count census and Social Security mortality records, we document Black-White disparities in homeownership rates and produce the first U.S.-based estimates of the association between homeownership in early adulthood and longevity. We then use a sibling-based identification strategy to estimate the causal effect of homeownership on longevity for cohorts born in the first two decades of the 20th century. Our results indicate homeownership has a significant positive impact on longevity, which we estimate at approximately 0.4 years.

Suggested Citation

  • Breen, Casey, 2023. "The Longevity Benefits of Homeownership," SocArXiv 7ya3f, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:7ya3f
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/7ya3f
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    References listed on IDEAS

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