Publication type
Research Paper
Series Number
10/234
Series
CMPO Working Papers University of Bristol
Author
Publication date
June 1, 2010
Abstract:
This study investigates whether and why house prices matter for well-being. House prices may influence well-being via a wealth/access-to-credit mechanism, as a rise in prices increases housing wealth and the collateral value of a house, and via a relative concerns mechanism, if renters compare themselves to homeowners and vice versa. Alternatively, any correlation between house prices and well-being may simply reflect broader economic conditions rather than a causal effect. Using local area house price data, this study distinguishes between these alternative explanations by comparing the correlation between local house prices and well-being for homeowners and renters. A small positive correlation between house prices and well-being exists for both homeowners and renters, indicating the absence of a wealth/credit mechanism or relative concerns mechanism. This correlation cannot be explained by economic variables such as local unemployment, earnings or earnings expectations, hinting at a purely psychological phenomenon.
Subjects
Link
- http://www.bristol.ac.uk/Depts/CMPO/workingpapers/workingpapers.htm
Notes
Nos. 98/001 onwards available on internet
discussion paper
#513527