The Cyclical Dynamics of Illiquid Housing, Debt, and Foreclosures

Aaron Hedlund

No 1416, Working Papers from Department of Economics, University of Missouri

Abstract: This paper quantitatively accounts for the cyclical dynamics of key macroeconomic housing and mortgage market variables using a tractable, search-theoretic model of housing with equilibrium mortgage default. To explain these dynamics, the model highlights the importance of liquidity spirals which arise from the interaction of search frictions and en- dogenous credit constraints. During housing busts, longer selling times spill over into higher foreclosure risk, thereby magnifying the response of credit constraints to the depressed housing market. This contraction in credit then deepens the downturn. During booms, the reverse occurs. Based on these insights, I consider a foreclosure reform that makes all mortgages full recourse, and I show that implementing such a reform would reduce foreclosures and dampen housing dynamics. and output. In a parametrized model, I establish that the optimal estate tax rate is significantly above zero.

Keywords: housing; liquidity; search theory; credit constraints; household debt; foreclosure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D31 D83 E21 E22 G11 G12 G21 R21 R31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 57 pgs.
Date: 2014-08-22
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dge, nep-mac and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

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