The Effects of Rent Control Expansion on Tenants, Landlords, and Inequality: Evidence from San Francisco

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2019
Volume: 109
Issue: 9
Pages: 3365-94

Score contribution per author:

2.691 = (α=2.02 / 3 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

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

Abstract

Using a 1994 law change, we exploit quasi-experimental variation in the assignment of rent control in San Francisco to study its impacts on tenants and landlords. Leveraging new data tracking individuals' migration, we find rent control limits renters' mobility by 20 percent and lowers displacement from San Francisco. Landlords treated by rent control reduce rental housing supplies by 15 percent by selling to owner-occupants and redeveloping buildings. Thus, while rent control prevents displacement of incumbent renters in the short run, the lost rental housing supply likely drove up market rents in the long run, ultimately undermining the goals of the law.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:109:y:2019:i:9:p:3365-94
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25