Health Implications of Building Retrofits: Evidence from a Population-Wide Weatherization Program
38 Pages Posted: 7 Jun 2023
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Health Implications of Building 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 in the aftermath of the German reunification during the 1990s. 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 upgrades sustainably reduce the demand for health care among the elderly sample of the population.
Keywords: Housing quality, renovation program, health
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