A new study by economists Chang-Tai Hsieh and Enrico Moretti claims to have found the cost, in economic growth, incurred by the high price of housing in expensive coastal cities. Hint: the word trillion is involved.
A new study, explained by Timothy B. Lee for Vox, hinges on the growing income imbalance between cities around the country: "People with similar skills and similar levels of education make a lot more money in New York and San Francisco than they do in St. Louis or Cleveland."
That leads to a rational assumption: "If housing wasn't so expensive in coastal cities, a lot more people would move to New York, Washington, Boston, Seattle, and the San Francisco Bay Area."
Moreover, the study uses data that suggest, "even after controlling for factors such as education — workers in these cities are more productive than in other metropolitan areas."
So, "Hsieh and Moretti estimate that moving American workers to higher-productivity cities could increase the income of Americans by a stunning amount…" (pause for effect) "...more than $1 trillion."
The study also identifies a culprit in this act of economic sabotage: "Hsieh and Moretti's analysis suggests that housing restrictions — and the Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) activists who lobby for them — are costing the American economy tens — perhaps hundreds — of billions of dollars per year."
FULL STORY: NIMBYs are costing the US economy billions
California Continues its Housing Policy Reinvention
It’s no longer business as usual in California when it comes to planning and developing housing.
Orlando Now Less Affordable than San Francisco
An analysis of housing affordability shows rising costs in America's smaller cities.
NIMBYs at Center of California's Housing Shortage
Sacramento Bee's political columnist, Dan Walters, writes that NIMBYs are among the main reasons for the state's chronic housing crisis, and one of their main tools is the California Environmental Quality Act, which must be reformed by politicians.
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
America’s Best New Bike Lanes
PeopleForBikes highlights some of the most exciting new bike infrastructure projects completed in 2022.
Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.
L.A. County Towns Clash Over Homelessness Policies
Local governments often come to different conclusions about how to address homelessness within their respective borders, but varying approaches only exacerbate the problem.
A Mixed-Use Vision for Houston Landfill Site
A local nonprofit is urging the city to consider adding mixed-use development to the site, which city officials plan to turn into a stormwater detention facility.
Milwaukee County Makes Substantial Progress on Homelessness
In 2022, the county’s point-in-time count of unhoused people reflected just 18 individuals, the lowest in the country.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
