Does a high‐tech boom worsen housing problems for working families?

In this article, we analyze the impact of high‐tech economic growth on the incidence of critical housing problems both among all households and among moderate‐income working families in major metropolitan areas. We rely on 1999 survey data, supplemented by other more recent data on housing market dynamics and building code enforcement. Overall, we found that the level of high‐tech activity affects, positively and significantly, the incidence of critical housing problems for all households and especially for moderate‐income working households, regardless of tenure. Consistent with anecdotal information about the problems of working families, we found a stronger impact on moderate‐income working households than on all households. We conclude that housing policy should be broadened to address the problems of working families as well as those of the poor, especially when the problems arise from rapid economic growth.