Judy Geyer
Research

My primary research interests include public economics, labor economics, industrial organization, and public policy.

In particular, I am very interested in models of choice and how those models explain behavior modifications resulting from policy change. Future research topics I plan to consider are policy issues in housing, aging, personal savings, lending and insurance decisions.

If you would like a more thorough summary of my research interests, please contact me to request my Research Statement.

Papers in Economics
(also, see "other" for published, peer-reviewed papers outside of economics)

  • [Job Market] Housing Demand and Neighborhood Choice with Housing Vouchers

    Abstract. One goal of the U.S. housing voucher program, as an alternative to public housing sub- sidies, is to help participants gain access to decent neighborhoods. I find that in a typical implementation of the program, participants in the housing voucher program live in better neighborhoods than public housing residents, but in lower-quality neighborhoods compared to unsubsidized households eligible for the program. I propose and estimate a new model of residential choice and housing demand that respects different budget constraints induced by various housing policies. The model is used to study several possible rental assistance schemes. With respect to crime rates and public school quality, a rental rebate program and a requirement to live in low-poverty neighborhoods would be most effective at improving neighborhood selection. The former would significantly lower program costs, while the later would have to be offset with high levels of compensation including relocation assistance.

  • [Revise and Resubmit to Quantitative Economics, with D. Epple and H. Sieg] Estimating a Model of Excess Demand for Public Housing

    Abstract. The goal of this paper is to estimate a new model that captures excess demand for public housing and to quantify the welfare costs associated with failing to maintain a sufficient supply of public housing communities. We develop a new model that captures excess demand for public housing in equilibrium. We estimate the parameters of the model based on a unique panel data set of low-income households in Pittsburgh. We find that for each family that leaves public housing there are on average 3.85 families that would like to move into the vacated unit. Demolitions of existing units increase the degree of rationing and result in large welfare losses. An unintended consequence of demolitions is that they increase racial segregation in low income housing communities.

  • [Working, with D. Epple and H. Sieg] Public Housing Policies and the Mobility of Low Income Households: Evidence from Pittsburgh

    Abstract. The goal of this paper is to study the impact of public housing policies on the mobility of low income households in a large urban area. We focus on communities owned and managed by the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh. Although participation guidelines and funding are controlled at the federal level, a local housing authority oversees many implementation issues that influence the program uniquely, including supply, community and neighborhood quality, waitlist implementation, and exit opportunities. The empirical analysis is based on a unique restricted use panel data set that allows us to follow low income households over a five year period. We find that heterogeneity in public housing communities is important in explaining households' decisions to enter and exit the housing assistance program. The paper also documents the importance of with-in program transfers. These transfers reflect a combination of desirability, events planned by the housing authority, and the turn-over rates of different communities. Tenant-initiated transfers and exits from public housing allow us to evaluate the relative desirability of different types of public housing communities. Understanding the link between community-specific amenities and mobility provides new insights for the design of better housing policies.

  • [Working, with B. Morrow] Effects of public housing on children's school performance.

Conferences

Dissertation Committee Members