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Mandatory Energy Efficiency Disclosure in Housing Markets

Author

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  • Erica Myers
  • Steven L. Puller
  • Jeremy West

Abstract

Mandatory disclosure policies are implemented broadly despite sparse evidence that they improve market outcomes. We study the effects of requiring home sellers to provide buyers with certified audits of residential energy efficiency. Using similar nearby homes as a comparison group, we find that this requirement increases price premiums for energy efficiency and encourages energy-saving investments. We additionally present evidence highlighting the market failure—incomplete information by both buyers and sellers—that prevents widespread voluntary disclosure of energy efficiency in housing transactions. Our findings support that disclosure policies can improve market outcomes in settings with symmetrically incomplete information.

Suggested Citation

  • Erica Myers & Steven L. Puller & Jeremy West, 2022. "Mandatory Energy Efficiency Disclosure in Housing Markets," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 14(4), pages 453-487, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejpol:v:14:y:2022:i:4:p:453-87
    DOI: 10.1257/pol.20200539
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kaestner, Kathrin & Sommer, Stephan & Berneiser, Jessica & Henger, Ralph & Oberst, Christian, 2025. "Cost sharing mechanisms for carbon pricing: What drives support in the housing sector?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    2. Daryl Fairweather & Matthew E. Kahn & Robert D. Metcalfe & Sebastian Sandoval Olascoaga, 2024. "Expecting Climate Change: A Nationwide Field Experiment in the Housing Market," NBER Working Papers 33119, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Bishop, Kelly C. & Kiribrahim-Sarikaya, Ozgen, 2024. "Energy-efficient investments in housing," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    4. Fang, Ximeng & Singhal, Puja, 2024. "Weather to pay attention to energy efficiency on the housing market," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    5. Johannes Gessner & Andreas Gerster & Michael Kramm, 2025. "The Alignment Effect of Auditing," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2025_696, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    6. Damen, Sven & van Kempen, Tijmen, 2025. "Mandatory energy efficiency disclosure policies and house prices," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • K32 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Energy, Environmental, Health, and Safety Law
    • L98 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Government Policy
    • Q41 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Demand and Supply; Prices
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • R31 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Housing Supply and Markets

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