On December 5, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York posted a commentary on development of the housing bubble in the 2000s. The behavior of private investors was key, it says.
On November 14, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis published a study showing that slow growth in commercial and residential construction is a primary cause of high unemployment.
A November 11 paper by MIT economist Plamen Nenov found that the housing bust and widespread negative home equity, which prevents people from selling or moving from their homes, has severely constrained geographical mobility, adding as much as 0.5 percent to the national unemployment rate.
On November 10, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York published a study on ways in which negative home equity reduces geographical mobility.
On November 3, the Census Bureau released new data showing that the percentage of young adults still living at home has risen sharply in recent years.
On October 25, Macroeconomic Advisers posted an analysis of the Obama administration’s latest housing plan. It projects a modest impact.
On October 20, the Progressive Policy Institute published a study proposing a 5-point plan for restoring the housing market.
On October 19, Macroeconomic Advisers posted an analysis of proposals to ease refinancing of mortgages held by the federal government, which could increase cash flow for homeowners and increase consumer spending.
On October 17, Freddie Mac published its latest economic outlook. It finds rising demand for rental housing.
On September 15, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration issued a report on the first time homebuyer credit, which found a high degree of inaccurate claims.
I last posted items on this topic on October 12.
Bruce Bartlett is an American historian and columnist who focuses on the intersection between politics and economics. He blogs daily and writes a weekly column for The Fiscal Times. Bartlett has written for Forbes Magazine and Creators Syndicate, and his work is informed by many years in government, including as a senior policy analyst in the Reagan White House. He is the author of seven books including his new book: The Benefit and the Burden.
