Lawrence Buron, Ph.D.

Lawrence Buron is an applied economist specializing in housing policy and the impact of government programs on labor market and quality-of-life outcomes of individuals and communities. An experienced leader of large-scale research and evaluation projects, he has led evaluations of the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV), HOPE VI, post-disaster housing options, and community redevelopment programs. He directs a random-assignment study of 36-month outcomes from 29 Health Profession Opportunity Grants and other innovative education and training programs to improve the career pathways and economic well-being of low-income, low-skilled workers.

Buron developed the sampling design and surveys for evaluations of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, public housing and voucher programs, homeless assistance programs, and alternative disaster housing. He also has worked on analysis of the drivers for administrative costs of operating the HCV program and performance measures for innovative housing agencies in the Moving to Work program. He managed a project to provide quality control and analysis services for the Census Bureau’s Longitudinal-Employer Household Dynamics.

Buron was selected to serve on Abt’s Project Quality Advisor Council in 2011, and he has been a trainer for Abt’s Project Director Development Program since 2013.

Expertise

• Policy analysis
• Labor economics
• Performance measurement
• Low-income housing policy
• Career pathways

Selected Publications

• The Evaluation of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. 2014. A report produced for HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research. (with J. Spader, J. Schuetz, A. Cortes, C. Redfern, K. Burnett, A. Jefferson, M. DiDomenico, A. Jefferson, S. Whitlow, and J. Buell.)
• An Improved Living Environment, but… 2013. Policy Brief for the Long-Term Outcomes for CHA Residents Series (with Christopher Hayes and Chantal Hailey). Study of Rents and Rent Flexibility: Final Report. 2010. A report for HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing.(with Jill Khadduri, Joshua Leopold, Sara Gibson, Meryl Finkel, the Urban Institute, and AREA.)
• “Are Census Variables Highly Correlated With Housing Choice Voucher Holders’ Perception of the Quality of Their Neighborhoods?” 2008. Cityscape: A Journal of Policy Development and Research 10 (1): 157-183. (with S. Patrabansh)
• Seven Strategies for Successfully Marketing and Stabilizing the Occupancy of Mixed-Income/Mixed-Race Properties: Summary Report. 2006. (with J. Khadduri, J. Weber, and F. Ferguson).
• Study on Section 8 Voucher Success Rates in Metropolitan Areas. 2001. A report prepared for HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research. (with M. Finkel).
• “The Gatreaux Legacy: What do Mixed-Income and Dispersal Strategies Mean for the Poorest Public Housing Tenants.” 2000. Housing Policy Debate, VII(4). (with S. Popkin, D. Levy, M. Cunningham).
• “The Growth in U.S. Male Earnings Inequality: Changing Wage Rates or Working Time?” Journal of Income Distribution, 1998, 8(1), pp. 255-276. (with R. Haveman).