June 2, 2006

PATH Lends Expertise to Panel on the Economics of Housing Technologies

In another first, PATH helped coordinate a panel discussion on the economics of housing technologies at the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association's (AREUEA) Mid-Year meeting in Washington, DC. Held on Wednesday, May 31st, the panel addressed economic and management issues as they relate to innovation in the residential building industry. Dr. Kermit Baker of the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies chaired the session, and individual papers were presented by:

• Carlos E. Martin, PATH: "Technology Matters---The Costs of and Returns to Innovating Homes, or Not"
• Darrell Bosch and Ewa J. Kleczyk, Virginia Polytechnic Institute: "Corrosion in Home Plumbing Systems: Assessment of Costs and Causal Factors"
• Theodore Koebel and Andrew McCoy, Virginia Polytechnic Institute: "Beyond First Mover Advantage: The Characteristics, Risks and Advantages of Second Mover Adoption in the Home Building Industry"
• Kevin M. Simmons, Austin College and Dan Sutter, University of Oklahoma: "Mitigation for Natural Hazards and the Housing Market"
• Randall A. Cantrell and Ed Hudson, NAHB Research Center: "How Active Participation in the Building Code Process Can Serve to Mitigate Added Costs"
  
  

Collectively, these papers represent an expedition between the economics of housing and the economics of technology. In housing economic circles, the "bricks and mortar" have received less attention than finance, planning, and community development. Similarly, scholars of the economics of technological innovation have focused on themes that have little relevance or application to housing and homebuilding. The economics of housing technology requires significant scholarly and policy attention since, as these papers demonstrate, technology matters in housing.

The American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association was originated at the 1964 meeting of the Allied Social Science Association in Chicago, and grew from discussions of individuals that recognized a need for more information and analysis in the fields of real estate development, planning and economics. The continuing efforts of this non-profit association have advanced the scope of knowledge in these disciplines and has facilitated the exchange of information and opinions among academic, professional and governmental people who are concerned with urban economics and real estate issues. The Association holds three conferences each year, and PATH applauds AREUEA's inclusion of housing technology concerns.

For additional information on AREUEA as well as the proceedings will be made available shortly, visit www.areuea.org.

For more information:
Kate Fried
(301) 588-9387

Content updated on 6/2/2006