Public Interest, Public Choice, and the Cult of Homeownership

2 U.C. Irvine L.Rev. 843 (2012)

U of Texas Law, Public Law Research Paper No. 403

28 Pages Posted: 19 Mar 2013 Last revised: 24 May 2013

Date Written: 2012

Abstract

This article questions why the Left, the Right, the U.S. Government, and the financial services industry all love homeownership. The article considers the dramatic transformation of the U.S. labor market over the last 30 years and the current state of the U.S. housing market then considers whether the assumption that homeownership is good for blacks and Latinos remains sound.

The article argues that blacks and Latinos have never received the full financial and noneconomic benefits homeownership generally provides to individual homeowners. After observing that blacks and Latinos have always faced obstacles when they attempted to buy homes, the article shows how these groups have been especially harmed in the current housing crisis. The article suggests that until these two groups can become more competitive actors in housing markets, they generally should avoid buying a house.

Keywords: homeownership, housing, black, Latino

Suggested Citation

Dickerson, A. Mechele, Public Interest, Public Choice, and the Cult of Homeownership (2012). 2 U.C. Irvine L.Rev. 843 (2012), U of Texas Law, Public Law Research Paper No. 403, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2235342

A. Mechele Dickerson (Contact Author)

University of Texas School of Law ( email )

727 East Dean Keeton Street
Austin, TX 78705
United States
512-232-1311 (Phone)
512-471-6988 (Fax)

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