ZEW Economist Siegloch Receives ERC Starting Grant to Investigate Inequality in Real Estate Markets

Urbanisation and gentrification are leading to rapidly increasing property prices and changing population structures in German and European cities. While inequality in neighbourhoods has been decreasing, disparities between individual districts have been growing. Why are such marked shifts occurring and which policies can mitigate these inequalities? Professor Sebastian Siegloch, head of the Research Department “Social Policy and Redistribution” at ZEW Mannheim, received a prestigious funding grant from the European Research Council (ERC) as part of the European Union's research programme “Horizon 2020”, amounting to a total of 1.5 million euros, which will be paid over five years to investigate these questions. “Rising real estate prices is a highly relevant issue for many people. It influences their place of residence, which is one of the most important choices in one’s life. We have to achieve a better understanding of how real estate markets work and how public policies such as property taxation can influence the market,” Siegloch explains.

ZEW economist Sebastian Siegloch, who is also a professor at the University of Mannheim, distinguished himself from strong competitors in his application for the ERC Starting Grant. “This ERC grant is a huge success for Sebastian Siegloch, his team, and the entire ZEW Mannheim. Through its decision, the European Research Council confirms our approach to further develop research on topics such as urbanisation,” ZEW President Professor Achim Wambach comments.