Quantitative Analysis FRQ Rubric

Practice Quant. Analysis FRQ: Rent Control

Prompt

After reading the scenario please respond to parts a, b, and c below.

1a) Identify who are among the primary beneficiaries of rent control according to the source above.

1b) Describe either a similarity or a difference in the data depicted above.

1c) Draw a conclusion about why that similarity or difference might exist.

1d) Explain how economic equity is affected by rent control measures according to this source.

Non-Examples

1a) The primary beneficiaries of rent control shown above are those in Manhattan.

Explanation: This is simply incorrect. The correct response would be those with the highest incomes, living in the richest neighborhoods and who are white. SInce it is identification, all you have to do is id correctly. .(0 points)

1b) The data above shows that rich, white people are benefiting most from rent control.

Explanation: They've identified the groups, but they've failed to use the data to prove this point. What evidence can be extracted above to prove this is essential to get the point here. .(0 points)

1c) Rich white people in the wealthiest areas are benefiting most because rent control is a price ceiling. Price ceilings create shortages.

Explanation: This explanation here does provide a because factor which is critical to getting the point, but they haven't completed the explanation to determine why the housing shortages caused by the rent control/price ceilings has led to greater benefits for white, rich people in wealthier neighborhoods. .(0 points)

1d) Economic equity is involved because white, rich people in wealthy neighborhoods are benefiting most. Economic equity is about ensuring greater fairness for all groups.

Explanation: They've pointed out an important point of who is benefiting most, and defined economic equity, but they have failed to make the connection between the two. Don't assume the reader can make the jump between these two points. Making that last point starting with something like since one group is benefiting more than others it violates...(0 points)

Model Response

1a) The top beneficiaries of rent control according to this document are white, those in the top income quartile, and those living in Manhattan.

Explanation: The prompt asks the reader to id the top beneficiaries and the writer has done so. No further description or explanation is needed since it is only an Identification question.

1b) Black people, those in the bottom quartile, and those living in the Bronx have received the least amount of support from rent control. For instance, each group has received no more than $300 benefit from such a cap, which is drastically less than the rich, white folk living in Manhattan.

Explanation: The answer finds a similarity across race, income level and city. They then used the data from the infographic to show the limited level of assistance those groups were receiving, which was less than $300, which was much less than the top beneficiaries.

1c) One possible explanation for this difference is that rents are bound to be higher in wealthier, more developed areas. The income gap between different racial groups is well proven, and perhaps rich, white people are the primary ones who can live in fancy Manhattan neighborhoods. So, by comparison the price ceilings will be most impactful on the areas with the highest rents already. So places like the Bronx, where more people of color, in lower income levels would not be as likely to benefit since the rental prices are already at or below where the price ceiling was set.

Explanation: The writer presented a line of reasoning that could explain why rich, white people are benefiting far more than poorer people of color living in the Bronx. The writer develops this explanation by providing examples from the data, and connecting that with the conclusion that they have drawn, namely that the price ceiling level will most impact areas with already high rental prices, and that the people living in those areas are more likely to be rich and white, while those living in poorer areas are more likely to not benefit from rent control because rent levels are lower in those areas already relatively speaking.

1d) According to this document rent control completely undermines efforts at building equity within the city. Equity after all is based on the notion that our government officials should do their best to ensure fairness and equality of opportunity. What the data shows though is that some groups, in this case rich white people living in Manhattan, benefit far more than poor black people living in the Bronx. The top income earners are receiving aid upwards of $1500 or more, while those at the bottom income quartiles are earning $200 at best. The results then are the opposite of equity since the elites of New York are benefiting most, while the poor and people of color are benefiting the least.

Explanation: The writer defines equity. The writer makes a claim that rent control in New York is undermining equity. The writer then provides examples within the source to show that the opposite of fairness and equality of opportunity is reached with the current rent control policies. They use data like the $1500 the elites are receiving to the paltry $200 poor, black people in the Bronx are receiving to prove that point. The writer then wraps back around to establish that final connection between equity and the lack of it with the examples provided. The College Board calls final steps like this "closing the loop."