Health implications of housing retrofits: Evidence from a population-wide weatherization program

Steffen Künn; Juan  Palacios

doi:10.1016/j.jhealeco.2024.102936

Health implications of housing retrofits: Evidence from a population-wide weatherization program

Steffen Künn^*, Juan Palacios

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

This study provides the first population-representative quasi-experimental estimates on the impact of housing upgrades on occupant health. We analyze the exceptional period of renovations in East Germany following the German reunification during the 1990s. Triggered by one of the largest governmental loan programs in history, 3.6 million dwellings were renovated, focussing on upgrades to the building insulation, windows and heating systems. Using rich survey data based on the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) as well as administrative records of hospital admissions in Germany, we consistently show that housing weatherization upgrades sustainably reduce the demand for health care among the elderly sample of the population.

Original language	English
Article number	102936
Journal	Journal of Health Economics
Volume	98
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2024.102936
Publication status	Published - Dec 2024

JEL classifications

h54 - "National Government Expenditures and Related Policies: Infrastructures; Other Public Investment and Capital Stock"
i18 - "Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health"
r21 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics: Housing Demand
r23 - "Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics: Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population; Neighborhood Characteristics"
r38 - "Production Analysis and Firm Location: Government Policy; Regulatory Policy"

Keywords

housing quality
renovation program
health

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10.1016/j.jhealeco.2024.102936Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Health implications of housing retrofits: Evidence from a population-wide weatherization program",

abstract = "This study provides the first population-representative quasi-experimental estimates on the impact of housing upgrades on occupant health. We analyze the exceptional period of renovations in East Germany following the German reunification during the 1990s. Triggered by one of the largest governmental loan programs in history, 3.6 million dwellings were renovated, focussing on upgrades to the building insulation, windows and heating systems. Using rich survey data based on the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) as well as administrative records of hospital admissions in Germany, we consistently show that housing weatherization upgrades sustainably reduce the demand for health care among the elderly sample of the population.",

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AU - Palacios , Juan

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AB - This study provides the first population-representative quasi-experimental estimates on the impact of housing upgrades on occupant health. We analyze the exceptional period of renovations in East Germany following the German reunification during the 1990s. Triggered by one of the largest governmental loan programs in history, 3.6 million dwellings were renovated, focussing on upgrades to the building insulation, windows and heating systems. Using rich survey data based on the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) as well as administrative records of hospital admissions in Germany, we consistently show that housing weatherization upgrades sustainably reduce the demand for health care among the elderly sample of the population.

KW - housing quality

KW - renovation program

KW - health

U2 - 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2024.102936

DO - 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2024.102936

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JO - Journal of Health Economics

JF - Journal of Health Economics

M1 - 102936

ER -

Health implications of housing retrofits: Evidence from a population-wide weatherization program

Abstract

JEL classifications

Keywords

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