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Input distortions in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit: Evidence from building size

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  • Lang, Bree J.

Abstract

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit subsidizes the non-land construction costs of low-income housing units. Because land costs are not subsidized, it may incentivize developers to produce buildings with too much capital from the viewpoint of optimal production. Using data on construction in Los Angeles County between 1993 and 2007, this paper estimates how the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit subsidy affects the size of newly constructed apartment buildings. Holding land area constant, I find the average subsidized building includes 25 to 29% more square footage than unsubsidized buildings constructed in the same year and zip code. The effect is primarily driven by subsidized buildings including more, instead of larger, housing units. Consistent with theoretical predictions, the effects are strongest in locations with low market rent. This input distortion is one reason that housing subsidies that fund the construction of low-income housing may be less cost-effective than subsidies given directly to tenants.

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  • Lang, Bree J., 2015. "Input distortions in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit: Evidence from building size," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 119-128.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:regeco:v:52:y:2015:i:c:p:119-128
    DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2015.03.003
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    Cited by:

    1. Christian A. L. Hilber & Olivier Schoni, 2022. "Housing policy and affordable housing," CEP Occasional Papers 56, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    2. Eriksen, Michael D., 2017. "Difficult Development Areas and the supply of subsidized housing," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 68-80.
    3. Eriksen, Michael D. & Lang, Bree J., 2020. "Overview and proposed reforms of the low-income housing tax credit program," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Housing; Subsidies; Construction costs;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics
    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue

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