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Property Taxes and Housing Allocation under Financial Constraints

Author

Listed:
  • Joshua Coven
  • Sebastian Golder
  • Arpit Gupta
  • Abdoulaye Ndiaye

Abstract

Property taxes impact the housing distribution across generations. Low property taxes lead to concentrated ownership among elderly empty-nesters, limiting housing for financially constrained young families. Conversely, high property taxes act as a “forced mortgage,” reducing upfront downpayments and enabling greater homeownership among younger households. We show in an overlapping generations model that raising property taxes in low-tax California to match those in higher-tax Texas increases homeownership in California by 4.6% and among younger households by 7.4% in steady state. Asset taxes can reallocate housing to higher-valuation households in the presence of financial constraints, providing an independent rationale for property taxes.

Suggested Citation

  • Joshua Coven & Sebastian Golder & Arpit Gupta & Abdoulaye Ndiaye, 2024. "Property Taxes and Housing Allocation under Financial Constraints," CESifo Working Paper Series 11203, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11203
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H71 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • R21 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Housing Demand
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts

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