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House Price Volatility and the Housing Ladder

Author

Listed:
  • Banks, James

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies, London)

  • Blundell, Richard

    (University College London)

  • Oldfield, Zoë

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies, London)

  • Smith, James P.

    (RAND)

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of housing price risk on housing choices over the life-cycle. Housing price risk can be substantial but, unlike other risky assets which people can avoid, the fact that most people will eventually own their home creates an insurance demand for housing assets early in life. Our contribution is to focus on the importance of home ownership and housing wealth as a hedge against future house price risk for individuals moving up the ladder – people living in places with higher housing price risk should own their first home at a younger age, should live in larger homes, and should be less likely to refinance. These predictions are tested and shown to hold using panel data from the United States and Great Britain.

Suggested Citation

  • Banks, James & Blundell, Richard & Oldfield, Zoë & Smith, James P., 2010. "House Price Volatility and the Housing Ladder," IZA Discussion Papers 5173, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp5173
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    migration; downsizing;

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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