The effect of rent control on commute times

This paper adds to the empirical literature on rent control. We hypothesize that rent control affects commute times. New Jersey census tract data (from the Urban Institute/Geolytics Neighborhood Change Database) show a positive and statistically significant relationship between rent control and commute times for 1980, 1990 and 2000. For 1980 and 1990, we confirm that it is a lack of household mobility that is behind the longer commutes. For 2000, detailed rent control data allow an examination of the consequences of the specific type of vacancy decontrol legislation. The most restrictive ordinances have the strongest effect on commute times.