Ep 55: Condos Don't Cause Gentrification with Leah Boustan and Robert Margo
Jul 26, 2023
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Leah Boustan and Robert Margo discuss their research on condominium conversion restrictions in US cities. They debunk the belief that condos cause gentrification and explore the unintended consequences of condo regulations. They also talk about the impact of rent control policies on condo conversions and compare condo development in the US and Canada.
Condos are a response to rising demand for housing, rather than a catalyst for neighborhood change.
Imposing restrictions on condo conversions did not lead to less gentrification, suggesting that condos are not the driving force behind neighborhood change.
Deep dives
Condos do not cause gentrification
Contrary to popular belief, shiny new condos do not cause gentrification in neighborhoods. Condos are a response to rising demand for housing, rather than a catalyst for neighborhood change. Research shows that there is no strong correlation between the presence of condos and the typical measures of gentrification like income, education, or racial demographics.
Condo conversions and regulations
Cities that imposed restrictions on condo conversions experienced a slowdown in condo development, as expected. However, these restrictions did not lead to less gentrification, as the underlying conditions for gentrification were still present. Furthermore, the regulations did not have a significant impact on the characteristics of the population, such as income or education. This suggests that condos are not the driving force behind neighborhood change.
The emergence of condos in the US
Condos emerged as a legally recognized form of ownership in the US in the 1960s, much later than in other countries. Historically, owning a slice of a multifamily building in the US was complicated, and the legal and mortgage institutions did not facilitate this form of ownership. The rise of condos was facilitated by changes in mortgage markets and legal institutions after World War II, making it more accessible for individuals to buy units in multifamily buildings.
Condo development and rental housing
The US has seen a disproportionate amount of rental housing construction compared to condos. This is particularly true in coastal cities, while Canada has faced the opposite issue. The imbalance can be attributed to various factors, including transaction costs and difficulties with condo living, issues with collective action and investment in common spaces, and the state of the regulatory structure. The preference for condo ownership among high-income individuals and the need for affordable housing in both rental and condo forms should be considered when evaluating the balance between rental and condo construction.
Condos don’t cause gentrification; gentrification causes condos. That’s the verdict of Leah Boustan and Robert Margo, who come on the show to discuss their research on condominium conversion restrictions in US cities. In addition to their research results, we talk about the (surprisingly short) history of condo ownership, the unintended consequences of condo restrictions, and the way other policies like HOA governance and rent control influence the popularity of owner-occupied multifamily housing.