Author(s)
Dionissi Aliprantis
Hal Martin
Kristen Tauber

This paper studies how design features influence the success of Housing Mobility Programs (HMPs) in reducing racial segregation. Targeting neighborhoods based on previous residents' outcomes does not allow for targeting race-specific outcomes, generates uncertainty when targeting income-specific outcomes, and generates bias in ranking neighborhoods' effects. Moreover, targeting opportunity bargains based on previous residents' outcomes selects tracts with large disagreements in current and previous residents' outcomes, with such disagreements predicted by sorting since 1990. HMP success is aided by the ability to port vouchers across jurisdictions, access to cars, and relaxing supply constraints, perhaps by targeting lower-ranked neighborhoods.

Publication Type
Working Paper
File Description
First version, October 11, 2022
JEL Codes
J15: Economics of Minorities, Races, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
R23: Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics: Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population; Neighborhood Characteristics
I38: Welfare and Poverty: Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
H43: Project Evaluation; Social Discount Rate
Keywords
housing mobility program
housing choice voucher program
opportunity mapping
opportunity atlas
neighborhood effect