Do housing regulations affect rural–urban migration? Evidence from rent control in India
以印度为案例，研究租金管制和驱逐法规的放松如何影响农村向城市迁移和劳动力市场，发现放松管制导致租金上涨并抑制迁移，而放松驱逐法规则促进租赁住房转为自有住房并增加“婚姻移民”。
Abstract Rent control influences more than housing markets. Using India—a country with heavily regulated housing markets—as a case study, we examine how shifts from pro-tenant to pro-landlord rent control and eviction laws impact rural–urban migration and labor markets. Additionally, we explore potential mechanisms to explain our results on migration. Relaxing rent control leads to higher rents and dampens rural–urban migration, while easing eviction laws facilitates the conversion of rental units into owner-occupied housing and increases the prevalence of “marriage migrants.” The impact of relaxing rent control and eviction laws on rural–urban migration is unexpected, confirming that removing one distortion from a market riddled with others can lead to surprising outcomes.