JUE Insight: What is the impact of opportunity zones on job postings?

Rachel M.B. Atkins, Pablo Hernández-Lagos, Cristian Jara-Figueroa, Robert Seamans

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We study the effect of Opportunity Zones (OZs) on job postings using data comprising the near-universe of U.S. online job postings. The OZs program grants tax breaks for investment in designated distressed communities, nominated by each state's governor based on multiple factors. We use propensity score matching to account for those factors and a difference-in-differences model over the matched sample to estimate the effect of the program. We find limited evidence of any effect of OZs on job postings on average, although we do find small positive effects in urban areas, in areas with above median Black population, and in some states.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number103545
JournalJournal of Urban Economics
Volume136
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2023

Keywords

  • Employment
  • Job postings
  • Opportunity zones
  • Place-based policies
  • Tax policies

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Urban Studies

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