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The effect of localized density on housing prices in Singapore

Author

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  • Fesselmeyer, Eric
  • Seah, Kiat Ying Sky

Abstract

This paper measures how localized residential density impacts housing prices in Singapore. Using exogenous variation in residential density, we find that an increase in density causes non-trivial decreases in property values: a 10% increase in density decreases price per square foot by between 1.3% and 2%. To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first paper to measure this effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Fesselmeyer, Eric & Seah, Kiat Ying Sky, 2018. "The effect of localized density on housing prices in Singapore," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 304-315.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:regeco:v:68:y:2018:i:c:p:304-315
    DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2017.12.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Liu, Yishen, 2018. "Estimating the elasticity of supply of housing space rather than units," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 1-10.
    2. Ciccone, Antonio & Hall, Robert E, 1996. "Productivity and the Density of Economic Activity," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 86(1), pages 54-70, March.
    3. Jin-Seong Lee, 2016. "Measuring the value of apartment density?," International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 9(4), pages 483-501, October.
    4. Gabriel M. Ahlfeldt & Stephen J. Redding & Daniel M. Sturm & Nikolaus Wolf, 2015. "The Economics of Density: Evidence From the Berlin Wall," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 83, pages 2127-2189, November.
    5. Ahlfeldt, Gabriel M. & Pietrostefani, Elisabetta, 2019. "The economic effects of density: A synthesis," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 93-107.
    6. Jan K. Brueckner & Shihe Fu & Yizhen Gu & Junfu Zhang, 2017. "Measuring the Stringency of Land Use Regulation: The Case of China's Building Height Limits," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 99(4), pages 663-677, July.
    7. Jackson, Kristoffer (Kip), 2018. "Regulation, land constraints, and California’s boom and bust," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 130-147.
    8. Fesselmeyer, Eric & Liu, Haoming & Salvo, Alberto, 2016. "How Do Households Discount over Centuries? Evidence from Singapore's Private Housing Market," IZA Discussion Papers 9862, IZA Network @ LISER.
    9. Belinda Yuen & Anthony Yeh & Stephen John Appold & George Earl & John Ting & Lanny Kurnianingrum Kwee, 2006. "High-rise Living in Singapore Public Housing," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 43(3), pages 583-600, March.
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    11. Glaeser, Edward L & Gyourko, Joseph & Saks, Raven, 2005. "Why Is Manhattan So Expensive? Regulation and the Rise in Housing Prices," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 48(2), pages 331-369, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bo‐sin Tang & Winky K.O. Ho & Siu Wai Wong, 2021. "Sustainable development scale of housing estates: An economic assessment using machine learning approach," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(4), pages 708-718, July.
    2. Zhou, Qian & Shao, Qinglong & Zhang, Xiaoling & Chen, Jie, 2020. "Do housing prices promote total factor productivity? Evidence from spatial panel data models in explaining the mediating role of population density," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    3. Fesselmeyer, Eric & Liu, Haoming & Poco, Louisa, 2021. "How Much Do Households Dislike Local Density? And Do Developers Fully Consider Their Preferences? Evidence from a Policy Change in Singapore," IZA Discussion Papers 14730, IZA Network @ LISER.
    4. Eric Fesselmeyer & Haoming Liu & Louisa Poco, 2024. "Within‐development density and housing prices in Singapore," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 64(2), pages 406-427, March.
    5. Acolin, Arthur & Colburn, Gregg & Walter, Rebecca J., 2022. "How do single-family homeowners value residential and commercial density? It depends," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • R20 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - General
    • R21 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Housing Demand
    • R38 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Government Policy

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