Impacts of community reinvestment act designation on employment in the presence of spatial spillovers
This study investigates the impact of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) designation on the resident employment-to-population ratio in the USA from 2012 to 2019, using synthetic difference-in-differences method. It also examines how these effects differ among underserved populations and between metropolitan, micropolitan, and small towns and rural areas. The findings suggest that the CRA has contributed to meaningful gains in employment in underserved communities, while also generating broader economic effects in neighboring areas.
Authors: Anil Rupasingha and Stephan J. Goetz
Publication: Annals of Regional Science Date Published: May 19, 2026