The Effect of Algae Blooms on Property Values located on Florida’s Indian River Lagoon
by Cameron DeChurch Abstract Florida’s Indian River Lagoon has algae blooms that devastate ecosystems, water quality, and markets for seafood, recreation, and housing. This study estimates part of their economic impact by examining water quality’s relationship with prices of properties sold near the estuary from 2007 to 2016. Using water quality scores from 0 to […]
Impact of Utility-Scale Solar Farms on Property Values in North Carolina
By Megan Wang Abstract The aim of this paper is to investigate impacts of utility-scale solar farms on surrounding property values. Using data from CoreLogic, the Energy Information Administration (EIA), and the US Census Bureau, this study identifies a 12% statistically significant increase in sale values associated with high-income residential homes within three miles of […]
The Effect of Sustainability Reporting on ESG Ratings
by Arthur Luetkemeyer Abstract Over the past decade the concept of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing has emerged to aid investors to maximize return on investments while simultaneously supporting environmentally and socially friendly methods of production and operation. In this paper I investigate the effect of the quality of sustainability reporting on ESG ratings. […]
Does Responsiveness to Mortality Risk Vary by Age? Evidence from Pandemic Health Outcomes and Movement Patterns
by Ryan Jones Hastings Abstract When choosing whether to visit venues like stores and restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals faced trade-offs between movement and mortality risk. This paper analyzes age-specific responsiveness to infection-related mortality risk in the Philadelphia metropolitan area from March through December 2020. First, we develop a theoretical model that characterizes potential […]
Impacts of Housing Interventions on Neighborhoods in Durham County
by Cassandra Turk Abstract Housing intervention models intended to revitalize neighborhoods and empower homeowners are frequently observed in cities across the United States. To determine the efficacy of these programs, this study analyzes the effects of a housing intervention on the price of the home and the changes in neighborhood characteristics that may lead to […]
Variability in Jury Awards for Noneconomic Damages in Motor Vehicle Negligence Cases
By Max Cherman I analyze the efficiency of jury awards for noneconomic compensatory damages awarded to automobile accident victims suffering nonfatal injuries bringing motor vehicle negligence tort claims. Data from 1002 Jury Verdict Research (JVR) case abstracts was narrowed down to 218 observations of plaintiffs receiving noneconomic damages awards at trials involving motor vehicle negligence […]
Where You Live and Where You Move: A Cross-City Comparison of the Effects of Gentrification and How these Effects Are Tied to Racial History
By Divya Juneja This thesis compares the effects of gentrification on school and air quality in ten cities to see whether cities with larger amounts of white flight post-World War II exhibited worse gentrification effects on renters. I find that renters in high white flight cities more consistently experience school quality downgrades—likely attributed to […]
Do Evictions Cause Income Changes? An Instrumental Variables Approach
By Grace Mok Evictions are an important aspect of the affordable housing crisis facing low-income American renters. However, there has been little research quantifying the causal impact of evictions, which poses challenges for academics interested in understanding inequality and policy-makers interested in reducing it. Merging two datasets both new to the literature, I address this […]
Is Inclusionary Zoning a Proper Remedy for the Affordable Housing Crisis? —A Case Study of IZ Programs in New Jersey and North Carolina
By Xinchen Li The recent decade witnessed a worsening of the affordable housing crisis across the country. Inclusionary zoning (IZ) has been a popular municipal remedy for the crisis. However, it is unclear whether IZ actually adds to the affordable housing stock, and whether it achieves its goal at the expense of average homeowners. Through […]
Landlords and Evictions: Changes in the Ownership of Multi-Family Rental Properties and Its Impact on Housing Stability in Durham, NC
By Ekim Buyuk This thesis investigates the changes in the ownership of multi-family rental complexes in Durham between 2000 and 2018 and their subsequent impact on housing stability. Specifically, I model and compare the likelihood that an eviction filing is issued by corporate and individual landlords in the periods before and after a transaction. Since […]
