Abstract: This paper develops and applies a novel framework to test whether landlords discriminate when filing eviction cases. Discrimination is measured by racial disparities in back rent owed at the time of filing, conditional on landlord and contract rent. Using rich administrative data from Philadelphia, I find that landlords discriminate by tolerating 4.9% less back rent from minorities before filing. To distinguish the sources of discrimination, I conduct a marginal outcome test and find evidence consistent with accurate statistical discrimination: landlords win cases at indistinguishable rates by tenant race, suggesting they accurately predict that successful minority cases require less back rent
with John Eric Humphries, Hsi-Ling Liao, Grace Ortuzar, Stephen Stapleton, and Winnie van Dijk
Abstract: Housing advocates have long argued that the public record associated with an eviction case—often referred to as the “Scarlet E”—carries significant consequences, particularly for low-income households. We aim to provide the first causal estimates of the effect of a public eviction filing record. To do so, we study a policy in Cook County, Illinois that mandated all eviction cases be filed under seal between March 2020 and March 2022. Upon the expiration of the sealing policy on April 1, 2022, all new eviction filings were public record while previously filed cases remained sealed. Focusing on this policy end date, we adopt a regression discontinuity design comparing the mobility and credit trajectories of tenants with sealed and public eviction cases. The results of this study will inform policy decisions on record-sealing laws in jurisdictions across the country.
with Nilesh Fernando and Paul Shaloka
Journal of Public Economics (2024)
with Nilesh Fernando, International Migration Review (2022)
with Jaimie Bleck, Journal of Modern African Studies (2020)