Public Policies and Rental Housing Markets
POSITION FILLED
FACULTY SUPERVISOR:
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
This is a full-time research assistant position under the supervision of Professor Winnie van Dijk (Yale Dept. of Economics), joint with Professor Scott Nelson (University of Chicago Booth School of Business). Research Assistants will be engaged in all stages of the research process, including conceptual development, data collection, data analysis, and writing. Collaboration with other research assistants, graduate students, and faculty at Yale and other institutions will be an important component of the job.
One-third of US households rent their homes. Yet relatively little is known about the rental housing market, especially compared to the well-developed literature on owner-occupied housing and residential mortgages. What forces shape the supply of rental housing? How do landlords make decisions in equilibrium on margins such as tenant screening, eviction, rent setting, and investment?
This RA position would support a number of empirical research projects spanning fields including public, urban, finance, and IO using rich and novel datasets on the rental housing market.
REQUISITE SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
The ideal candidate will have a strong quantitative background, programming skills, the ability to work independently and solve problems, and a long-term interest in pursuing research in economics or an adjacent field. Candidates should also have strong communication skills and the ability to write clearly.
Background in economics is a plus but not required; candidates with strong technical skills who are interested in learning more about economics are encouraged to apply. Successful applicants typically have Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees with substantial coursework in economics, math, and/or computer science.