Homeownership and the Achievement Gap. A Research Synthesis

Abstract

This paper investigates the potential efficacy of policies designed to increase homeownership as a means of narrowing the achievement gap by synthesizing the empirical literature linking homeownership and academic performance and reviewing relevant theory. Overall, the literature yields mixed results that offer a strong theoretical basis for, but weak empirical evidence of, such a relationship. Just over half of all models find statistically significant positive effects of homeownership on academic performance, but results are less positive when predicting achievement instead of attainment, using quasi-experimental rather than correlational models, and/or controlling for residential stability. The larger question that remains unanswered is where, when, and for whom homeownership will yield positive results. Despite the mixed results, significant reason exists to believe that increasing homeownership could narrow the achievement gap if the right policies are put in place at the right times in the right places for the right people.