Abstract

This study challenges the conventional wisdom regarding unauthorized immigrants and housing prices. We examine the relationship between unauthorized immigration and residential house prices, debunking common myths about their association.

The Backstory

During the heated 2024 U.S. presidential campaign season, a simple and emotionally charged argument echoed across rallies, cable news, and social media: unauthorized immigrants are stealing homes from American citizens and driving up housing prices. The claim was politically potent but it linked two of voters’ top anxieties, immigration and housing affordability, in a single, easy-to-blame narrative. However, the underlying logic resonated with millions: more people, less housing, higher prices.

For us economists, this wasn’t a political debate. It was an empirical question, and one that deserved a rigorous answer.

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