Housing Opportunity, Smart Growth, and Income Inequality: Developing a Prospectus for a National Study

Author: Jonathan Martin

Dissertation School: Cornell University

Abstract:

The proposed research explores housing opportunity as it relates to income inequality and smart growth land-use policies in the 50 most populous U.S. MSAs (1999 division) with the express intent of producing a research prospectus (manuscript) for a doctoral dissertation. Housing opportunity, as I am defining it, considers regional housing costs as a percentage of income for wage earners at the 20th and 80th percentiles, as well as the composition of an area's housing stock (availability of housing types) and costs above rent and mortgage payments (for example, condominium and homeowner association fees and downpayment requirements).

The purpose of this research is to identify and sharpen current measurements of income inequality and to identify and categorize what, if any, roles Smart-Growth initiatives and income inequality play in mediating housing outcomes. Particular interest is given to regions with high population growth and a concentration of high-technology production and producer services. I am proposing a statistical analysis of changes in housing opportunity, income inequality, and land-use growth controls in the 50 most populous U.S. MSAs (1999) between 1970 and 2000.

My primary methods of analysis include econometric statistical multiple regression and hierarchical cluster analysis to determine how housing opportunity (dependent variable) relates to the presence of Smart Growth zoning and income inequality (independent variables). I will follow that with onsite case study analyses of four conditional points of interest informed by the statistical analysis. I will circulate a manuscript to selected participants, present summary findings at an academic/professional conference, and submit a draft manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal.

Back to Search Result of EDSRG Dissertations