A rising tide lifts all homes? Housing consumption trends for low-income households since the 1980s
Journal of Public Economics · 2024 · Erik Hembre、J. Michael Collins、Samuel Wylde
中文摘要
本研究分析了1985年以来低收入家庭的住房消费和支出模式。对于收入处于最低五分位的家庭，实际月度住房支出已从605美元上升至1,045美元。然而，这些增加的支出部分反映了住房数量方面的改善，包括居住面积扩大、房间数量增加以及地块面积增大。数据还显示，住房质量显著改善，例如屋顶下陷、家电损坏、鼠患和油漆剥落等问题均有所减少。低收入家庭的住房质量在我们能够衡量的全部35项指标上均有所改善。这些质量改善相当于住房消费增加了34%至43%，并表明2021年典型低收入家庭所享有的住房质量相当于1985年全国家庭的平均水平。尽管相对住房消费水平仍大致相似，但住房领域的这种“水涨船高”可能会为居住在更优质住房中的家庭和儿童带来额外的福祉增益。
Abstract
This study analyzes patterns of housing consumption and expenditures among low-income households since 1985. For households in the bottom income quintile, real monthly housing expenditures have risen from $605 to $1,045. However, these increased expenditures partially reflect housing quantity improvements, including more square footage, more rooms, and larger lot sizes. The data also show a marked improvement in housing quality, such as fewer sagging roofs, broken appliances, rodents, and peeling paint. The housing quality for low-income households improved across all 35 indicators we can measure. These quality improvements equate to between a 34 to 43 percent increase in housing consumption and suggest that a typical low-income household in 2021 experiences housing quality equivalent to the average national household in 1985. Though relative housing consumption has remained similar, this “rising tide” of housing may have additional benefits for the well-being of families and children living in better housing.