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U.S. housing prices and the Fukushima nuclear accident: To update, or not to update, that is the question

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  • Alexander Fink
  • Thomas Stratmann

Abstract

Did the nuclear catastrophe at Fukushima in March 2011 cause individuals to reappraise the risks they attach to nuclear power plants? We investigate the change in housing prices in the U.S. after the Fukushima event to test the hypothesis that house prices in the proximity of power plants fell due to an updated nuclear risk perception. Using a difference-in-differences approach we do not find evidence in support of the hypothesis that individuals reappraise the risks associated with nuclear power plants. House prices close to nuclear reactor sites did not fall relative to house prices at other locations in the U.S.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Fink & Thomas Stratmann, 2013. "U.S. housing prices and the Fukushima nuclear accident: To update, or not to update, that is the question," ICER Working Papers 04-2013, ICER - International Centre for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:icr:wpicer:04-2013
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    File URL: http://www.bemservizi.unito.it/repec/icr/wp2013/ICERwp04-13.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Bauer, Thomas K. & Braun, Sebastian & Kvasnicka, Michael, 2013. "Distant Event, Local Effects? Fukushima and the German Housing Market," Ruhr Economic Papers 433, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    3. Welsch, Heinz & Biermann, Philipp, 2016. "Measuring nuclear power plant externalities using life satisfaction data: A spatial analysis for Switzerland," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 98-111.
    4. Thomas K. Bauer & Sebastian Braun & Michael Kvasnicka, 2013. "Distant Event, Local Effects? Fukushima and the German Housing Market," Ruhr Economic Papers 0433, Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universität Dortmund, Universität Duisburg-Essen.
    5. KAWAGUCHI, Daiji & 川口, 大司 & YUKUTAKE, Norifumi & 行武, 憲史, 2014. "Estimating the Residential Land Damage of the Fukushima Accident," Discussion Papers 2014-18, Graduate School of Economics, Hitotsubashi University.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fukushima; nuclear accident; hedonic prices; housing; updating;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • 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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