Blog

The Zoning Tax: $400,000, House Not Included

A new working paper from Gyourko and Krimmel (2021) analyzes new data on single-family housing construction and land use regulations, and finds that cities with restrictive zoning are in effect charging a “zoning tax”— and in some cases in California,…

Harvard’s State of the Housing Crisis

In a new report on the state of housing in the U.S., the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University finds that inequality and housing insecurity have been exacerbated under the COVID-19 pandemic, and urges government officials to step…

The White House Says YIMBY

It’s official: Juneteenth is now a national holiday. While the historic recognition of the end of Black slavery is worthy of celebration, the White House Council of Economic Advisors isn’t pausing for the festivities: In a powerful review of the…

How Density Shortens Commute Times in the US and Mexico

A new study by Guerra and Li (2021) compares 100 of the largest urban regions in the United States and Mexico. Their models mapping the transportation choices and socioeconomic trends from a sample size of five million commuters have important…

The Limits of Inclusionary Zoning

A new paper by Cassola (2021) examines the costs and consequences of inclusionary zoning policies across the globe. Does requiring a portion of new private, market-rate development to be set aside at limited prices for lower-income households actually improve affordability…