Chinese housing market and bank credit

Abstract

This paper presents an empirical analysis of the determinants of housing prices using the province-level panel data that covers all the regions in China for the period 1999–2015. The bank credit is the primary determinant of housing prices. Remarkably, a one-percentage-point increase in the growth of bank credit leads to a subsequent appreciation in the growth of the housing price by 0.281 %. The sensitivity of bank credit varies across subcategories of buildings, and between the province-level analysis and the city-level analysis.