The Impacts of Gentrification on the San Francisco Bay Area

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to offer an explanation of the causes and effects of gentrification. First, I will use formal economic models of the markets for both high-end and affordable housing to predict the series of developments that lead to gentrification. Then I will evaluate the applicability of the models using San Francisco as a case study to see if the predictions of the models accurately describe the events unfolding in a major U.S. city. Finally, I will present a series of normative arguments that explore the potential ethical ramifications of gentrification.