The Effects of the 1930s HOLC "Redlining" Maps

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
Year: 2021
Volume: 13
Issue: 4
Pages: 355-92

Score contribution per author:

1.341 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This study uses a boundary design and propensity score methods to study the effects of the 1930s-era Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) "redlining" maps on the long-run trajectories of urban neighborhoods. The maps led to reduced home ownership rates, house values, and rents and increased racial segregation in later decades. A comparison on either side of a city-level population cutoff that determined whether maps were drawn finds broadly similar conclusions. These results suggest the HOLC maps had meaningful and lasting effects on the development of urban neighborhoods through reduced credit access and subsequent disinvestment.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejpol:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:355-92
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-24