Mansion Tax: The Effect of Transfer Taxes on the Residential Real Estate Market

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
Year: 2015
Volume: 7
Issue: 2
Pages: 214-57

Authors (2)

Wojciech Kopczuk (Columbia University) David Munroe (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

Using discontinuities in housing transaction taxes in New York and New Jersey we find robust price bunching. Incidence for transactions local to the notch falls on sellers, with no evidence of evasion. The volume of missing transactions above the notch exceeds those bunching (beyond the usual extensive-margin response), indicating incentives for buyers and sellers not to transact (market unravels). The possibility of unraveling affects interpretation and estimation of bunching. Away from the threshold, we find increased discounts and weaker relationship between listing and sale prices. Equilibrium bargaining framework highlights that taxation affects the ultimate allocation in this search market. (JEL H71, R21, R31)

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejpol:v:7:y:2015:i:2:p:214-57
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25