Investigating the convergence of housing prices in the provinces of Iran (Markov-Switching unit root test approach)

The purpose of this research is to investigate the convergence of housing prices in the provinces of Iran using the Markov switching nonlinear unit root test along with the generalized Dickey - Fuller unit root test between 1993 and 2021. The results of the Dickey-Fuller test show that housing prices do not converge, while the Markov switching nonlinear unit root test confirms the validity of this theory in some periods of Iran's economy. According to the results obtained in the boom regime (housing price increase conditions), there is convergence in housing prices, but there is no convergence in the recession regime (housing price decrease conditions). The result obtained from the nonlinear test seems to be expected.This case could be considered as temporary due to inflationary conditions and high inflation expectations, the decrease in housing prices, and there is an expectation of a housing price increase in a short time, and therefore prices do not decrease rapidly. According to the results of the research, the use of policy tools specific to each region and province can provide better management in controlling the fluctuations of the country's housing market. The adoption of complementary policies to stabilize housing prices may also be appropriate