Housing Policy

Catalog description

The government intervenes in housing markets in different ways and for different reasons. This course is designed to explore why the federal and local government in the U.S. intervene in housing markets and what forms these interventions take. Specifically, students will learn about: the mechanisms that drive both the supply and demand for housing; how U.S. housing policy has changed over time; factors that affect the production, distribution, and location of housing; the social and economic impact of housing on households and neighborhoods; the equity implications of housing policies. This course will place particular emphasis on low-income rental housing. By the end of this class students will have a firm understanding of U.S. housing policy and be able to engage in a meaningful debate about future challenges and opportunities in the U.S. housing market and the implications of different policy interventions. Ultimately, this course will provide students the conceptual tools necessary to evaluate, formulate, and implement housing policy.