Urban renewal after the Berlin Wall: a place-based policy evaluation

Gabriel Ahlfeldt, Wolfgang Maennig and Felix J. Richter

Journal of Economic Geography, 2017, vol. 17, issue 1, 129-156

Abstract: We use a quasi-experimental research design to study the effects of a spatially targeted renewal policy implemented in Berlin, Germany, in the aftermath of the city’s division during the Cold War period. Our results suggest that over the course of 20 years, the policy helped to reduce (increase) the propensity of buildings being in poor (good) condition within the targeted areas by, on average, 1.2–3% (0.6–2.5%) per year. The estimated effects on property prices range from 0.1% to 2% per year. In each case, the lower-bound estimate is not statistically significant. We find little evidence of positive housing externalities or positive welfare effects.

Keywords: Urban; renewal; revitalization; redevelopment; quasi-experiment; placed-based policy evaluation; real estate; Berlin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D62 H23 R21 R31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (34)

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Working Paper: Urban renewal after the Berlin Wall: a place-based policy evaluation (2017)
Working Paper: Urban renewal after the Berlin Wall - A place-based policy evaluation (2014)
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