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Reposted by Erlend E Bø

Andreas Kotsadam @kotsadam.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I most say this has been an absurd process. Even half of the authors withdrew their names. Yet it becomes a comment vs bs answer as usual. It’s impossible to set the record straight.

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Gabriel M Ahlfeldt @ahlfeldt.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Spatial-equilibrium modelling now works directly in your browser. Choose a city, draw a policy on the map, and see results by grid cell in near real time. Here is a stylised Crossrail experiment in London. 🧵 sites.google.com/view/ahlfeld...

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Gabriel M Ahlfeldt @ahlfeldt.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Thrilled our paper was accepted at @reveconstudies.bsky.social! Fond of our indirect-inference estimate of density disamenity—learning from macro, matching reduced-form causal moments in structural models @bsoeberlin.bsky.social github.com/Ahlfeldt/DPs/blob/main/GA_NBS_JR_-_SkyscraperRevolution.pdf

Title page and abstract of “The Skyscraper Revolution: Global Economic Development and Land Savings” by Gabriel M. Ahlfeldt, Nathaniel Baum-Snow, and Remi Jedwab. The abstract reports that removing height constraints raises welfare in developing economies, tall buildings foster urban growth and compactness, and indirect inference yields a density-disamenity elasticity of −0.11.

Figure A8, “Model Simulated Height Elasticities by Density Disamenity.” The graph plots population, built area, rent, and wage height elasticities against the density elasticity of amenities. Model curves match the reduced-form population and area moments near a density-disamenity elasticity of −0.11.

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

I'm not going to fact check all that, but I noticed the argument that Dutch population is stable, which is wrong.

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

But he's simply handwaving away the geographical dimension with work-from-home, as there aren't other amenities and advantages to living somewhere close to a town or city.

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Vacancy data are uncommon, but an economic consultancy recently did some work on this in Norway. In the capital, there are around 10 000 empty housing units (<3% of stock). More than half of long-term empty houses countrywide are outside build-up areas. samfunnsokonomisk-analyse.no/publikasjone...

samfunnsokonomisk-analyse.no

Omfang av og årsaker til tomme boliger | Samfunnsøkonomisk Analyse

Samfunnsøkonomisk analyse AS har i samarbeid med Norkart AS og på oppdrag fra Husbanken innhentet og analysert data fra matrikkelen og folkeregisteret for å estimere beholdningen av tomme boliger (bol...

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

the model is used to look at welfare and price effects of a tax on landlords. It increases welfare, through redistribution of houses from renters to owners. Housing prices decrease, while rents increase. Tighter rental markets may have negative real-life effects not captured by the model. 7/7

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

In the model, an inflow shock (observed in Oslo in the period), increases demand for both owned and rented housing. The increased incentive BTL in periods with high rents amplifies the effect on housing prices by further increasing the number of buyers. 6/7

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

The calibrated model matches the high investor share and housing price increase observed in the Oslo housing boom, while featuring increasing price-to-rent, and correlation of BTL share with housing price growth. This without credit constraints, and with rational price expectations. 5/7

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

To explain these patterns, I develop a search model that allows housing owners to invest in rental housing, with prices and rents endogenous. Non-owners rent from BTL landlords as long as supply last, or else e.g. flat share/live with parents. The model is calibrated againt empirical moments. 4/7

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

I look at descriptive statistics for BTL investors in 2007 – 2014, a period with rapidly increasing population, prices and rents in Oslo. 20% of purchases were done for BTL, and the BTL share was correlated with increases in housing supply. 3/7

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

In Oslo, as in many other cities, much of rental supply consists of small-scale BTL investors, competing for house purchases with normal buyers. I find that BTL, combined with search frictions in the housing market, amplifies volatility of housing prices. 2/7

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

"Buy to Let: The Role of Rental Investors in Housing Booms". A new paper in International Economic Review. In the paper I look at how Buy-to-let (BTL) investors affect housing price dynamics. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... 1/7

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dirkkruegerier.bsky.social @dirkkruegerier.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

The International Economic Review has just published a new exciting paper by Erlend Eide Bø on Buy to Let: The Role of Rental Investors in Housing Booms. It is available through @WileyEconomics here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Buy to Let: The Role of Rental Investors in Housing Booms

How do rental investors affect housing price dynamics? I develop a search model that allows housing owners to invest in rental housing. The model matches the high investor share and housing price inc...

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

I do think it's a little weird that QJE doesn't bother to list more than the first name if there are 3 or more authors. It's an economics journal, the full list of authors is almost always going to fit on one line.

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Work in the Research department at Statistics Norway, Researcher in Population Analysis and Forecasting wanted.

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Very interesting! I've got a paper on small-scale (buy-to-let) housing investors. The results pointing in the same direction as the papers you mention. Taxing investors increases homeownership and total welfare, while increasing rents. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

papers.ssrn.com

Buy to let: The role of rental investors in housing booms

How do rental investors affect housing price dynamics? I develop a structural search model that allows housing owners to invest in rental housing, and let rents

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Joe Fish @sadbusdriver.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

I'm going to try to put together a mini lit review on some of the recent institutional landlords papers. there are lots of papers, so I will be necessarily omitting many. Mostly focused on impacts on prices, and whether institutional landlords are killing homeownership and driving up rents.

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

I have a new publication out, about the assessment of housing values for tax purposes. Written with my colleagues Nygård and Thoresen, it is about the current model used for valuing housing in the Norwegian wealth tax, and how to improve the model. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

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Karine Nyborg @karinenyborg.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

We're hiring! Postdoc positions in environmental econ, political econ, microeconomic theory, U of Oslo: econjobmarket.org/positions/12.... Brilliant & friendly colleagues, lovely city, beautiful nature, family friendly norms, Oslo's best views from our lunch room!

econjobmarket.org

EJM - Econ Job Market

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Martin B. Holm @martinbholm.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

🚨JOB ALERT🚨 We are hiring tenure-track assistant/associate professors in Economics at the University of Oslo. Fields: macro, micro theory, international trade, development Application deadline: November 30! More info at: econjobmarket.org/positions/11...

econjobmarket.org

EJM - Econ Job Market

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Simon Galle @simongalle.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

BI is hiring PhD candidates in economics. We offer: - a friendly and collegial department - strong faculty support during your PhD - access to very rich Norwegian microdata - a competitive salary - a strong track record in PhD placements. Please share #EconSky 🙏🙏 bi.easycruit.com/vacancy/3539...

bi.easycruit.com

Handelshøyskolen BI Programområdet - Doktorgrad - PhD Candidate in Economics

PhD Candidate in Economics

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Very interesting working paper on market concentration in housing supply by @leqonomics.bsky.social. Higher concentration among house builders gives lower construction, higher price volatility and lower construction volatility. Likely as relevant outside of the US. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

New, from me: A Trump official is concocting mortgage fraud claims to target opposition. It's a classic authoritarian trick. Now they are doing it to Lisa Cook, the first Black female member of the Federal Reserve to push her to resign. 🧵 donmoynihan.substack.com/p/trump-uses...

donmoynihan.substack.com

Trump Uses Legal Threats to Push Federal Reserve Member To Resign

Trump administration's weaponization of the DOJ part of an authoritarian pattern

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Isn't the colors on the housing part wrong? The Haig-Simons should be light?

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Absolutely! Getting at the total welfare effects, including increased demand for workers, changing ameneties etc. is really complicated. But the benefit likely differs. Even if the total effect of Airbnb is positive, the effect on those struggling with housing costs might be negative.

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Allowing more housing to be build is the most important solution, by all means. But there is also convincing research that Airbnb can cause significant increases in housing prices and rents for cities with large tourist demand, like Barcelona. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

sciencedirect.com

Do short-term rental platforms affect housing markets? Evidence from Airbnb in Barcelona

In this paper, we assess the impact of Airbnb on housing rents and prices in the city of Barcelona. Examining very detailed data on rents and both tra…

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Reposted by Erlend E Bø

Chye-Ching Huang @dashching.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

THREAD: the Ways & Means bill creates new opportunities for tax avoidance and evasion, adds complexity to the tax system, and increases filing burdens for low- & moderate-income families. My @taxlawcenter.org colleagues have more analysis coming, but here's a starter list (suggestions welcome):

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Johanna Rickne @johannarickne.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

🚨 REPLICATION REPORT UPDATE: One year ago, a tweet by John Holbein alerted me, @ollefolke.bsky.social, and @jopieboy.bsky.social to a paper with a shocking result about Sweden’s law criminalizing the purchase of sex.🧵

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Amanda Litman @amandalitman.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Some stats from 100 days in on congestion pricing: - Complaints about car-honking are down 70% - The Holland Tunnel has 65% fewer delays at rush hour; time to get thru it is down 48% - 6 million fewer cars - Half as many traffic-related injuries - 1.5 million more visitors to BIDs year over year

curbed.com

How Well Is Congestion Pricing Doing? Very.

One hundred days in, honking is down; bus speeds are up.

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

The dataset described here (on Norwegian residential housing auctions) is very nice, though unfortunately not publicly available. housinglab.oslomet.no/wp-content/u...

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Sturla A K Løkken @sturla.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Excited that our paper about the highly policy-relevant group of students on the margin between dropping out and completing high school is finally forthcoming in JOLE. @eckhoffandresen.bsky.social

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

I wonder here about the construction outcome: % growth in housing. Is it a good supply measure? Imagine City A has high regulation, B low. Both have 100 inhabitants, but A has 80 houses while B has 100. Following an inflow of 10, A builds 8 houses, B 10. Same % increase, but not similar results.

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

I have a recent WP with colleagues about how that is done in Norway. bsky.app/profile/erle...

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

I think this paper makes good arguments for using automatic valuation methods in property tax assessments.

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

That's interesting. I do however think that the capacity for implementing such a tax (particularly the valuation) has increased since the early 20th century. Though the political pressure to attach loopholes is of course still there.

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Interesting on the strong influence of regulations on built form.

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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

An administration serious about fixing the deficit would not fire the people who collect the money needed to fix the deficit. donmoynihan.substack.com/p/doge-misma...

Don’t fire the guys collecting the money
Governments can’t function without revenue, so ensuring that the agency that collects taxes can do its job is pretty fundamental to maintaining state capacity. Under Biden, the IRS had received long-awaited and much needed funds that allowed it to rebuild after a period of sustained downsizing, and was becoming more effective.

The IRS represented a very simple test for the credibility of DOGE. Was it really interested in efficiency and state capacity? If so, you support the tax enforcement, the biggest return on investment in government, generating somewhere between $5-9 for every additional $1 spent on enforcement.

Or did DOGE want to minimize parts of the state that bothered billionaires?

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

While Norway has few inhabitants, it has a lot of variation both in geographic features and in density of housing. The simple model has a reasonabe fit even in rural areas with few transactions. In more densely populated countries, a similar model would likely have an even better fit. 5/5

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

The existing system in Norway functions quite well. It is not very data intensive, though does require digitalization of property register and transaction data. We also present an improved system which better utilizes available geographic information. 4/5

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

We’re arguing that a simple, hedonic regression based system, as existing in Norway, can be accurate and cost-effective. An automatic system also avoids assessors corrupting the process for their own ends. 3/5 bsky.app/profile/nber...

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

The difficulty is that only a small subset of housing units is sold each year. That makes it hard to value the whole mass of housing units, which are quite heterogeneous. As a result, many countries use old, outdated values, while other countries use a lot of resources at valuation. 2/5

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

New working paper with two colleagues (Nygård & Thoresen). We look at how to value residential property for tax purposes. There are several different taxes on residential property. Mostly, authorities want tax valuations to reflect market value of the property. 1/5 www.ssb.no/en/priser-og...

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Kristoffer Berg @kristoberg.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

My paper on the relationship between inequality aversion and non-discrimination has just been published in Economica onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... The main result is that inequality aversion in tax policy is overestimated when horizontal equity is ignored.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Revealing inequality aversion from tax policy and the role of non‐discrimination

Governments have increasing access to individual information, but they exploit little of it when setting taxes. This paper shows how to reveal inequality aversion from observed tax policy choices of ....

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Erlend E Bø @erlendebo-econ.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Finland has downgraded most MDPI and Frontiers journals to junk. Seems reasonable. julkaisufoorumi.fi/en/news/chan...

julkaisufoorumi.fi

Changes to the classification

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Karine Nyborg @karinenyborg.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

U of Oslo hiring new Econ PhD students! Good salary, great work environment (English work language), brilliant colleagues, family-friendly norms, welfare benefits (paid parental leave, access to subsidized child care); great city by the fjord, hiking/skiing a short Metro ride away! shorturl.at/lETgr

jobbnorge.no

PhD Research Fellowships in Economics (271488) | University of Oslo

Job title: PhD Research Fellowships in Economics (271488), Employer: University of Oslo, Deadline: Wednesday, January 15, 2025

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Owen Zidar @omzidar.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Pretty striking findings! www.parisschoolofeconomics.eu/app/uploads/...

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