Essays on Urban Economics

Abstract

[eng] The dissertation examines how rising housing costs and booming tourism affect local economies. The first chapter provides an introduction to the topic. The second chapter studies developers' influence on housing policy. The study investigates the role of real estate developers in local politics in California. It finds that developers significantly influence housing policy, resulting in increased housing permits, especially for multi-family housing. However, this influence is insufficient to address California's housing shortage. The third chapter studies the impact of tourism on income per capita. Focusing on Spain, the study reveals that municipalities with high tourism growth have lower per capita income. This is attributed to a shift towards the service sector, reduced manufacturing employment, lower educational attainment, and job instability in the tourism sector. The fourth chapter studies how housing costs influence labor market disparities. In French urban areas, rising housing prices exacerbate disparities between high- and low-skilled workers. High housing costs particularly affect low-skilled workers' job stability and employment opportunities, underscoring the spatial mismatch between housing and employment. The last chapter concludes and provides policy recommendations. and avenues for future research.