Making Housing Affordable: Q&A with Jason Ward
Jason Ward directs the RAND Housing Center. He discusses findings from his recent research, why housing has become so unaffordable, and ways to address the housing crisis.
Jason M. Ward
Director, RAND Housing Center; Economist; Professor of Policy Analysis, RAND School of Public Policy
Expertise
Jason Ward is an economist and director of the RAND Housing Center. His research is focused on housing production, housing affordability, and housing safety net programs. Ward's current research includes a study of the effects of changes in the generosity of the federal Housing Choice Voucher program on access of participant families to high-achieving schools, understanding the relationship between homeless serving housing facilities and local crime, an assessment of whether water supply is a constraint on projected housing growth needs in Southern California, and an analysis of recent economic trends in Santa Monica, California.
Ward received his Ph.D. in economics in 2019 from the University of Illinois at Chicago. His research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed social science journals including Demography, Cityscape, Economic Inquiry, Health Affairs, and Labour Economics. Coverage of his research and his commentary have appeared in leading media outlets including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, NPR's Marketplace, and CalMatters. His research has been supported by Arnold Ventures, the Hilton Foundation, the Cooper Housing Institute, and Coefficient Giving, among others.
Education
Ph.D. in economics, University of Illinois; M.A. in economics, University of Illinois; B.A. in economics, University of Illinois
Authored by Jason M. Ward
62 Results
