Productivity Shocks of Dominant Companies and Local Housing Markets

Abstract

We extend the literature on the influence of firm-level characteristics on housing markets by exploring the association between the labor productivity shocks of dominant firms and local housing prices. Using a sample of all U.S. firms from COMPUSTAT during 1980-2017, we find that the aggregate shocks of labor productivity of dominant firms at the metropolitan statistical area (MSA)-level explain for a significant portion of the local housing price changes in MSAs while controlling for other housing price determinants. About a year or more is required for the shocks to propagate through the local housing markets, which make them a viable predictor of future housing price. The productivity shock – housing price relation is stronger in areas that have more concentrated high-tech dominant firms or where dominant firms have closer links to their local non-dominant industry peers. Shocks are also more influential during economic expansion than economic contraction. Furthermore, the relation also exists at the zipcode level but the shocks propagate faster than at the MSA-level. The findings provide helpful insights for real estate practitioners and policymakers, especially in areas with a higher concentration of large companies.

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