Name of Report: Setting Research and Policy Agendas: Research on Discrimination in Housing and Mortgage Markets: Assessment and Future Directions
Organizational Affiliation: Fannie Mae Foundation, Housing Policy Debate
Author: George C. Galster, The College of Wooster
Date: N/A
Contact Information: N/A
Pages: 48
Content Summary
This report critically analyzes existing research on the detection, causes, and consequences of housing discrimination. The author also evaluates policy initiatives aimed at reducing discrimination in housing markets by deterrence and by diminishing residential segregation. The report begins with a conceptual framework for analyzing racial discrimination in housing and mortgage markets that may be helpful for researchers, but may not be particularly useful for policy-makers. The author comments on the effects of discrimination on larger society, and suggests topical areas for further research.
Major Findings
- Private acts of housing discrimination are well-documented, however relatively little is known about the most successful policies for reducing this discrimination.
- Few studies have been conducted on housing discrimination committed by local governments and public agencies.
- Little is known about the scope of differential treatment and disparate impact modes of discrimination in mortgage, appraisal, and insurance markets.
- Frequent racial discrimination occurs against Blacks and Hispanics during the housing transaction process, but little is known about housing discrimination directed at racial groups other than Blacks or Hispanics.
- Racial discrimination may extend to the marketing of properties, but further research is needed in this area.
- Identifies theoretical causes of discrimination in housing and mortgage markets: agent prejudice, customer prejudice, potential customer prejudice, expected discrimination, inferior tenant, and pure profit maximizing.
- Identifies consequences of discrimination in housing and mortgage markets: residential segregation, interracial economic disparities, inferior minority dwelling and neighborhood conditions, and difficulties in minorities’ housing search.
Related Issues
Existing studies on housing discrimination directed at racial groups other than Blacks or Hispanics complement this report, including a 2004 study by Kwon, et al., which focuses on Asian immigrant householders. Additionally, housing discrimination committed by a public agency, the Federal Housing Administration, is examined in a 2002 report by Önder. Racial discrimination in the marketing of properties is addressed in a 2004 report by Dawkins.
Reference List
- Dawkins, Casey J. “Recent Evidence on the Continuing Causes of Black-White Residential Segregation.” Journal of Urban Affairs 26.3 (2004): 379-400.
- Kwon, Hee-Kyung, Virginia S. Zuiker, and Jean W. Bauer. “Factors Associated with the Poverty Status of Asian Immigrant Householders by Citizenship Status.” Journal of Family and Economic Issues 25.1 (2004): 101-120.
- Önder, Zeynep. “Homeownership and FHA Mortgage Activity in Neighborhoods and Metropolitan Areas.” Journal of Housing Economics 11 (2002): 152-181.
How to Access Report
http://www.knowledgeplex.org/kp/text_document_summary/
scholarly_article/relfiles/hpd_0302_galster.pdf