Liquidity Shocks, Homeownership, and Income Inequality: Impact of Early Pension Withdrawals and Reduced Deposit

TL;DR

This paper examines how early pension withdrawals and reduced deposits influence housing prices, accessibility, and inequality, revealing that policies have complex effects on different income groups and market dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a model analyzing the short-term effects of pension withdrawal and deposit reduction policies on housing prices and inequality using Australian data.

Findings

Both policies increase housing prices in the short run.

Reduced deposits hinder low-income households' access to housing.

Early withdrawals can improve access but may threaten retirement security.

Abstract

The paper analyzes two government policies affecting housing demand: early withdrawal from pension savings (EW), and reduction of loan deposit (RD). A model incorporating demand feedback on housing prices using Australian data shows both policies raise prices in the short run. RD delays or prevents access for low-income households, particularly in supply-constrained markets. EW improves accessibility across groups and is most efficient when full withdrawal is permitted, but can reduce retirement security if pension grows faster than property prices. The results also indicate that unequal outcomes stem not from price surges themselves but from pre-existing market disparities.