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Does Homeownership Reduce Wealth Disparities for Low-Income and Minority Households?

Author

Listed:
  • Ashleigh Eldemire
  • Kimberly F Luchtenberg
  • Matthew M Wynter

Abstract

We use the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Choice Voucher program as a setting to evaluate the interaction of homeownership and race on the wealth accumulation of low-income households. Using a within-treatment difference-in-differences framework, we establish that low-income households that receive assistance in owning a home experience increased wealth accumulation relative to their tenure as renters. These wealth gains are not present among low-income minority households. Our findings provide evidence that homeownership is a driver of wealth formation for low-income households and that homeownership does not inherently reduce racial disparities in wealth. (JEL G51, J15, R21).

Suggested Citation

  • Ashleigh Eldemire & Kimberly F Luchtenberg & Matthew M Wynter, 2022. "Does Homeownership Reduce Wealth Disparities for Low-Income and Minority Households?," The Review of Corporate Finance Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 11(3), pages 465-510.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:rcorpf:v:11:y:2022:i:3:p:465-510.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/rcfs/cfac016
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • R21 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Housing Demand

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