The impact of Airbnb on long-term rentals, population, and college enrollments: Empirical evidence from an Italian university town

This paper investigates the impact of platform-based accommodations in the real estate market on socio-economically relevant indicators. Using a city-specific dataset from 2017 to 2019 we studied the effect of Airbnb density on rental prices, residential population, and non-local undergraduate enrollments in the municipality of Bologna. Leveraging rental estimates from the Real Estate Market Observatory, as well as data on Airbnb listings, we employed three longitudinal estimations with zone-fixed effects and various demographic and economic controls. Our analysis reveals a significant positive association between Airbnb and rental prices. Moreover, Airbnb presence seems to have a negative impact on non-resident undergraduate enrollments in the subsequent year. These findings support existing literature on the impact of platform-based accommodations on rent and underscore its potential role in producing tourist-led gentrification within urban areas.