Home Price Expectations and Spending: Evidence from a Field Experiment

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2025
Volume: 115
Issue: 7
Pages: 2267-2305

Authors (3)

Felix Chopra (not in RePEc) Christopher Roth (Universität zu Köln) Johannes Wohlfart (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

2.681 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

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

Abstract

We conduct a field experiment with US households to study how expectations about long-run home price growth shape spending decisions. We exogenously vary survey respondents' expectations by providing different expert forecasts. Homeowners' spending, measured using rich home-scanner data, is inelastic to home price expectations. By contrast, renters reduce their spending when expecting higher home price growth. These patterns reflect positive wealth effects for owners from higher future wealth and negative income effects for both groups due to higher future housing costs. Our study highlights consequences of asset price growth and long-term expectations about the economy for household behavior.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:115:y:2025:i:7:p:2267-2305
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25