Economics

Mine Processing Plant

Demand for Lithium Drops as Global Electric Vehicle Sales Slump

It was long thought that a finite supply of lithium, a key element needed for electric vehicle batteries, would constrain the production of zero-emission vehicles, but the opposite happened: a slow down in EV demand has caused lithium prices to drop.

September 7, 2019 - Oil Price

Venezuela

Lamenting the Decline of Caracas, Once the 'Jewel of Latin America'

"A generation ago, Venezuela’s capital was one of Latin America’s most thriving, glamorous cities; an oil-fuelled, tree-lined cauldron of culture that guidebooks hailed as a mecca for foodies, night owls and art fans."

December 24, 2018 - The Guardian

Phoenix Dust Storm

Carbon Taxes and Climate Change Are Focus of Nobel Prize for Economics

The Nobel Prize was issued the same day as a landmark report by the IPCC predicting dire consequences if emissions aren't reduced. That's what William D. Nordhaus of Yale University has devoted his career to addressing.

October 9, 2018 - The New York Times

Trees and People

Report Details the Long-Term Financial Benefits of Green Design

This report estimates that U.S. cities could save half a trillion dollars by investing in "smart surface technologies." The study takes into account obvious factors like energy use and less intuitive ones like tourism revenues.

February 20, 2018 - Next City

Shopping Cart

Brick and Mortar Continue to Struggle as Shoppers Scatter

Online options and oversaturation in some markets are leading to continued declines in physical storefronts around the country.

June 20, 2017 - Bloomberg

Chicago Apartments

Chicago Pays Billions for Continued Segregation

The Urban Institute and the Metropolitan Planning Council studied the social and economic impacts of segregation in the Chicago region.

April 10, 2017 - Chicago Tonight

UPS LNG Truck

No Left Turns for UPS Trucks

To avoid accidents and conserve fuel, UPS trucks sometimes take circuitous routes on their deliveries, avoiding left turns.

February 19, 2017 - Quartz

Road Construction

Debate: Growing the Economy From the Supply Side

Two economists discuss how specific kinds of deregulation could speed up growth. They emphasize planning issues: local overregulation of development and the high cost of infrastructure, among others.

October 19, 2016 - Bloomberg View

Uber Taxi

Uber's Demand Curve Is a Breakthrough for Users and Economists

Uber users are getting massive amounts of value from the service, according to a new analysis only possible in the post-transportation network company era.

September 25, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Tenderloin District

Op-Ed: Overcoming a New NIMBYism

Rick Jacobus argues that those who block new development on social justice grounds aren't fighting to win long-term. Building is necessary, but with it should come robust affordable housing mandates.

March 17, 2016 - Shelterforce

aerial view of identical suburban homes

A Brief Explainer of the Urban vs Suburban Migration Inflow/Outflow Argument

Has the renaissance of our urban cores petered out or will the movement of suburban refugees to denser metro neighborhoods continue? Let's see what demographics and economics tell us.

January 11, 2016 - Medium

This Weekend, Don't Forget: Cheap Gas Prices Aren't Always a Good Thing

There are a lot of people in this country that consider cheap gas to be a form of benevolence. Here are some reasons why they should curb their enthusiasm.

November 20, 2015 - City Observatory

Parking Sign Blue

Portland Seeking the Right Price for New Permit Parking

With several Portland neighborhoods adding overnight permit parking, the city will be tackling the issue of how to price the new permits.

October 7, 2015 - Bike Portland

Highlights from CNU 23 Dallas

Having just wrapped up a great CNU in Dallas, April 29 through May 2, a collection of urbanists share some of the ideas that resonated the most.

May 6, 2015 - PlaceShakers

Small-Scale Apartment

Single-Lot Densification Faces Zoning, Economic Challenges

Small-scale development on single lots is an alternative to the centralized mid-rise norm. But this kind of classic infilling may not be as easy as build-it-and-they-will-come.

March 26, 2015 - Streets.MN

The Far-Reaching, Lasting Effects of Low Oil Prices

With SUV sales up, car sales down, and mileage driven up, the effects of lower gas prices could soon extend to land use, making suburban and exurban commuting more affordable. Economists have a term for these effects: demand response.

February 24, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal - The Outlook

'Inequality Happens?' Hopefully Not

Even local officials who prefer to talk about the fiscal rebound of their cities will not be able to accept escalating inequality as a byproduct of urban growth forever.

January 15, 2015 - Rooflines

Say it Loud: Inequality is Bad for Everyone

There is an invisible culprit in the great scandal of inequality in America: your Econ 101 textbook. Go ahead, dig it out from that storage chest, and undoubtedly you’ll read that inequality, while we might not like it, is good for economic growth

January 4, 2015 - Rooflines

Size of A City's Middle Class Predicts Poor's Economic Mobility

Researchers find that among the largest 100 metro regions in the U.S. , those with a larger middle class, provide higher economic mobility.

September 6, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

The Economic Argument for Bicycling

A new report from the League of American Bicyclists highlights studies from across the U.S. showing the economic benefits of biking.

October 8, 2012 - Co.Exist

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