Evaluating the Impact of COVID-19 on Automobile Debt and Access Among Vulnerable Populations

Research Team: Evelyn Blumenberg (lead), Fariba Siddiq, Samuel Speroni, and Jacob L. Wasserman

UC Campus(es): UCLA

Problem Statement: The vast majority of low-income households in California own and travel by automobile and have also been the hardest hit by the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Automobile ownership for the poor can lead to positive outcomes, including employment, higher wages, and greater access to high-quality places to live. But the current crisis is likely saddling low-income families with untenable debt, which for some households may result in the loss of household vehicles.

Project Description: Using historical and current data from the University of California Consumer Credit panel from Experian (which includes data on consumer credit, debt, and income for California households), this research examined the determinants and geography of automobile debt and its consequences in California, testing whether various automobile debt measures disproportionately affect non-white neighborhoods.

Status: Completed

Budget: $80,000