Mike Eriksen

Professor of Economics
Dean V. White Real Estate Finance Program

Education

BA, Gonzaga University
MS, Syracuse University
PhD, Syracuse University

Michael Eriksen is a Professor of Economics and the Director of the Dean V. White Real Estate Finance Program at Purdue University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Biology from Gonzaga University, and a M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from Syracuse University. He was previously on the faculty at the University of Cincinnati, University of Georgia and Texas Tech University before coming to Purdue University in August 2022.

Dr. Eriksen’s research focuses on the interaction of government, business and households in housing markets, especially low-income. His research has appeared in the top academic journals in public economics, urban economics, and real estate. It has also been cited or featured in The Economist, LA Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Frontline, National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, Money Magazine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Moneywatch, and US Congressional Testimony.

Michael is currently on the editorial board of the Journal of Housing Economics and previously served on the Board of Directors of the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association (AREUEA). He has also received financial support for his research from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts, the National Institutes of Health, Research Institute for Housing America, AARP Foundation, Ohio Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Journal Articles

Eriksen, Michael D. and Guoyang Yang (2026). "Does Affordability Status in Who Wants Multifamily Housing in their Backyard?”." Review of Economics and Statistics
Eriksen, Michael D. and Anthony Orlando (2024). "A cost-decomposition of break-even rents of new multifamily housing development." Journal of Housing Economics vol. 66
Eriksen, Michael D., Chun Kuang, and Wenyu Zhu (2024). "Attribute Misreporting and Appraisal Bias." Review of Finance vol. 28 (5),
Eriksen, Michael D., Hamilton Fout, Mark Palim, and Eric Rosenblatt (2022). "Contract Confirmation Bias: Evidence from Repeat Appraisals." Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics 77-98.
Engelhardt, Gary V. and Michael D. Eriksen (2022). "Homeownership in Old Age and at the Time of Death." Economic Letters vol. 212
Eriksen, M. D., & Orlando, A. (2022). "Returns to Scale in Residential Construction: The Marginal Impact of Building Height” Real Estate Economics." Real Estate Economics vol. 49 (2), 30.
Eriksen, Michael D., and Shaun Bond (2021). "The Role of Parents on the Home Ownership Experience of Their Children: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study." Real Estate Economics vol. 49 (2), 433-458.
Eriksen, Michael D., and Bree Lang (2020). "Overview and Proposed Reforms of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program." Regional Science and Urban Economics vol. 80
Engelhardt, Gary V., Michael D Eriksen, and Nadia Greenhalgh-Stanley (2019). "The Impact of Employment on Parental Co-Residence." Real Estate Economics vol. 47 (4), 1055-1088.
Eriksen, Michael D., Hamilton Fout, Mark Palim, and Eric Rosenblatt (2019). "The Influence of Contract Prices and Relationships on Appraisal Bias." Journal of Urban Economics vol. 111 132-143.
Brown, Jennifer L., Eriksen, Michael D., Gause, Nicole K., Brody, Gene H., & Sales, Jessica M (2018). "Impact of behavioral drug abuse treatment on sexual risk behaviors: An integrative data analysis of eight trials conducted within the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network." Prevention Science vol. 19 (6), 761-771.
Eriksen, Michael D. and James M. Carson (2017). "A Burning Question: Does Arson Increase when Local House Prices Decrease?" Journal of Risk and Insurance vol. 84 (1), 7-34.
Eriksen, Michael D (2017). "Difficult Development Areas and the Supply of Subsidized Housing." Regional Science and Urban Economics vol. 64 68-80.
Eriksen, Michael D., Thomas Kniesner, Christopher Rohlfs, and Ryan Sullivan (2016). "Toward More General Hedonic Estimation: Clarifying the Roles of Alternative Experimental Designs with an Application to a Housing Attribute." Regional Science and Urban Economics vol. 57 54-62.
Eriksen, Michael D., Nadia Greenhalgh-Stanley, and Gary Engelhardt. (2015). "Home Safety, Accessibility, and Elderly Health: Evidence from Falls." Journal of Urban Economics vol. 87 14-24.
Eriksen, Michael D. and Amanda Ross (2015). "Housing Vouchers and the Price of Rental Housing," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy vol. 7 (3), 154-176.
Brown, Jennifer L., Sales, Jessica M., Swartzendruber, Andrea L., Eriksen, Michael D., DiClemente, Ralph J., & Rose, Eve S. (2014). "Added benefits: Reduced depressive symptom levels among African-American female adolescents participating in an HIV prevention intervention." Journal of Behavioral Medicine vol. 37 (5), 912-920.
Eriksen, Michael and Amanda Ross (2013). "The Impact of Housing Vouchers on Mobility and Neighborhood Attributes." Real Estate Economics vol. 41 (2), 255-277.
Eriksen, Michael, James Kau, and Donald Keenan (2013). "The Impact of Second Loans on Subprime Mortgage Defaults." Real Estate Economic vol. 41 (4), 858-886.
Eriksen, Michael and Stuart Rosenthal (2010). "Crowd Out Effects of Place-Based Subsidized Rental Housing: New Evidence from the LIHTC Program." Journal of Public Economics vol. 94 (11-12), 953-966.
Eriksen, Michael (2010). "Homeownership Subsidies and the Marriage Decisions of Low-Income Households." Regional Science and Urban Economics vol. 40 (6), 490-497.
Engelhardt, Gary V., Michael D. Eriksen, William G. Gale, and Gregory Mills (2010). "What are the Social Benefits of Homeownership? Experimental Evidence for Low-Income Households." Journal of Urban Economics vol. 67 (3), 249-258.
Eriksen, Michael (2009). "The Market Price of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits." Journal of Urban Economics, vol. 66 (2), 141-149.
Brown, Jennifer L., Peter A. Vanable, and Michael D. Eriksen (2008). "Computer Assisted Self-Interviews: A Cost Effectiveness Analysis." Behavior Research Methods vol. 40 1-7.
Mills, Gregory, William G. Gale, Rhiannon Patterson, Gary V. Engelhardt, Michael D. Eriksen, and Emil Apostolov (2008). "Effects of Individual Development Accounts on Asset Purchases and Saving Behavior: Evidence from a Controlled Experiment." Journal of Public Economics vol. 92 (5-6), 1509-1530.

When Appraisers Lie
The inaccuracies of real estate appraisers, whether accidental or purposeful, harm financial institutions, those seeking to buy properties, and even taxpayers. A study coauthored by Purdue University Professor Mike Eriksen suggests that a national database of property transactions and reported attributes should be created.
Full story: When Appraisers Lie

Mike Eriksen’s research highlighted in Vox investigation of building codes and housing affordability
Research from Mike Eriksen, Director of Purdue's Dean V. White Real Estate Finance Program, shows how building codes quietly drive up apartment costs and rents in story by Marina Bolotnikova for Vox.
Full story: Mike Eriksen’s research highlighted in Vox investigation of building codes and housing affordability
Local leaders oppose this housing affordability bill. But do experts think it will work?
Experts largely agree that legislation being pushed by powerful state leaders could make a dent in Indiana's housing affordability crisis. But local leaders are sounding the alarm about the same legislation — and say it would prevent residents from pushing back on dense developments near their homes
Reimagining America’s Empty Office Buildings
Mike Eriksen addresses real and perceived barriers facing converting forlorn office buildings into affordable housing.
Examining a Crucial Ecosystem: Buildings, Infrastructure and People
Daniels School real estate thought leader Mike Eriksen and Purdue colleague Deniz Besiktepe workshop practical pathways to resilient, efficient and sustainable facilities.
Why having rich parents may trump hard work
What is the surest way to get rich? These days, a successful career is becoming less important than being born into wealth. In most developed countries, the value of inheritances as a share of national income has surged over the last 30 years, reaching levels not seen in almost a century.
Cracking the Code: One man’s quest to fix the way we build
Slate notes Mike Eriksen is one of the few academics studying how new building codes affect construction and design.
Purdue’s Real Estate Finance Program Has Changed Lives
Mike Eriksen, director of the Dean V. White Real Estate Finance Program at Purdue’s Daniels School, shares his passion for the job.
Making Dollars and Sense of Building Codes
Real estate expert Mike Eriksen and project team members will use a HUD grant to study the role of building codes as a land-use restriction with a goal of boosting housing supply nationally.
Graduates of real estate finance program build meaningful careers
Real estate, with its capacity to shape urban landscapes, provide housing solutions and catalyze economic growth, has the potential to transform communities worldwide.
Professor Mike Eriksen on low-income housing and 'crowd out'
Daniels School Professor Michael Eriksen discusses the issue of “crowd out” in affordable housing production.
Krannert’s Dean V. White Real Estate Finance Program Welcomes New Director
Mike Eriksen, the incoming director of the new Dean V. White Real Estate Finance Program at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management, is anxious to share his passion with students. “One of my strengths is getting people excited about real estate,” he says. “I really enjoy working with students, introducing them to the field, and seeing their successes.”