Brief Housing Tax and Transfer Programs Decrease Inequality
Gregory Acs, Paul Johnson
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We examine the relationships between housing subsidies, the mortgage interest and real estate tax deductions, and income inequality and find that housing subsidies to low-income families reduce income inequality while the mortgage interest and real estate tax deductions increase it. On net, the distribution of post-tax, post-transfer income is slightly more equal than it would be in the absence of these three programs.
Research Areas Wealth and financial well-being Social safety net Taxes and budgets Housing
Tags Federal housing programs and policies Housing vouchers and mobility Wealth inequality Housing subsidies Individual taxes Inequality and mobility Public and assisted housing
Policy Centers Income and Benefits Policy Center