Airbnb Inc. warned that a crackdown on short-term rentals in major cities could worsen the shortage of affordable housing, as the home-rental company seeks to tamp down concern about its impact on local communities.
The company published a study Tuesday that found the expansion of short-term rentals, or vacation rentals, has a positive effect on housing supply over the long term by encouraging the construction of new apartments and houses.
The study, conducted by economists at the University of Massachusetts Boston, analyzed data from 17 major U.S. cities. It found that between 2017 and 2021, the number of short-term rentals in these cities increased by 28%, while the number of long-term rentals increased by only 9%.
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