This is not the usual research post, but rather one in which I (Davide Proserpio) want to share some exciting updates.
For the past decade, my research agenda has been closely tied to Airbnb and the broader short-term rental market, with a focus on competition, housing outcomes, regulation, and market design. With that in mind, I am very excited to say that I have recently joined Airbnb as a Housing Scholar, a role that aligns closely with both my academic work and the mission of R.E.A.L.
This role fits naturally with my research agenda over the past decade, much of which has focused on Airbnb and short-term rentals more broadly. Over the years, I have studied how short-term rental platforms and their interactions with local housing markets, incumbents, regulations, and urban policy operate, using observational and quasi-experimental designs.
The goal of this appointment is straightforward: to conduct rigorous research on housing markets and housing policy and to help improve how evidence informs policy discussions on short-term rentals and local housing outcomes.
Housing markets are complex, reflecting the interplay of zoning, taxation, supply constraints, local demand shocks, and long- and short-term rental activity. As a result, simple narratives often overlook key mechanisms. My interest has always been in understanding these mechanisms using data, credible empirical designs, and transparent assumptions.
In this role, I will collaborate with Airbnb’s research and policy teams while continuing to serve as a professor at the University of Southern California. My views and conclusions will remain my own, and any research I conduct will adhere to standard academic norms and integrity.
This appointment also aligns with the work that Marco and I have been doing at R.E.A.L., an independent initiative that provides data-driven insights and research on real estate markets. Some of that work has already focused on short-term rentals, and more is coming. When possible, I will share on R.E.A.L. updates, results, and reflections as projects develop.
This is an opportunity to deepen research I have pursued for years, to gain a richer institutional context for how housing platforms operate, and to help move the debate away from anecdotes toward evidence.
As always, feedback is welcome.