The Impact of the Chainsaw-Liberation on the Rental Housing Market in Buenos Aires

Martin Elfert and Stephan Thomsen

Hannover Economic Papers (HEP) from Leibniz Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät

Abstract: This paper examines the effects of Argentina’s repeal of the rental law in December 2023, one of the most radical housing policy reforms in Latin America in recent decades. Using weekly data for Buenos Aires from 2023–2024 and applying a Regression Discontinuity Design, we provide causal evidence on short-term supply and price effects. Our results indicate a substantial revival of rental housing supply, while nominal and real rents declined, contrary to theoretical expectations of sharp increases. These findings suggest that deregulation mobilized previously withheld units, temporarily alleviating excess demand. Given Argentina’s volatile context, conclusions remain preliminary yet policy-relevant.

Keywords: rent control; deregulation; evaluation; RDD; Argentina (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: K25 R31 R38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 26 pages
Date: 2025-09
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Related works:
Working Paper: The Impact of the Chainsaw-Liberation on the Rental Housing Market in Buenos Aires (2025)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:han:dpaper:dp-741

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