Full Citation

Title: Estimating Living Costs for US Metropolitan Areas in 1990 & 2000

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2012

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Abstract: The paper uses Census data to calculate three alternative measures of metropolitan housing costs in 1990 and 2000. It compares their ability to predict the shelter portion of the Consumer Price Index, and then picks the best of the three for further scrutiny. In a small sample of metropolitan areas, the best measure predicts 40% of the variation in the change in the shelter portion of the CPI. In a larger sample, it does less well predicting a proxy. However, tested against a commonly used proprietary measure, the ACCRA index, the best measure predicts the CPI proxy somewhat better. The paper concludes that the best index, which is straightforward to calculate, has some promise as a measure of living costs beyond the 25 metropolitan areas where the CPI is available.

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Authors: Easton, Todd

Periodical (Full): Journal of Regional Science

Issue: 3

Volume: 52

Pages: 469-485

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Housing and Segregation

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