Measuring Pro-housing Reforms at Scale
Abstract
To increase housing supply and housing affordability across the United States, state and local governments have started experimenting with a menu of pro- housing reforms. If politicians and planners adopt certain reforms, how can they best monitor their effectiveness at providing affordable housing? This paper outlines how those practitioners can use data for housing policy evalu- ation, from determining what to study to understanding the research methods used by outside experts. To illustrate recommendations, I use frontier empirical research in urban economics and recent data collection successes by government agencies. This paper offers a standardized reform evaluation plan that can speed up the production of knowledge about which reforms work in different market conditions.