Housing
Cities are dynamic centers of exchange, innovation, and economic growth, providing the platform where people, ideas, and capital come together. However, the regulations that limit urban development reduce the potential for income mobility and rising standards of living over time. Mercatus research shows how land-use policy reform can reverse the stagnation in our cities and address the systemic problem of housing affordability.
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Latest work in Housing
- | Housing Housing
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Less but Better Zoning
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Colorado Can Improve Housing Affordability by Requiring a Health and Safety Basis for Occupancy Limits
Colorado Senate Local Government and Housing Committee | House Bill 24-1007, The HOME (Harmonizing Occupancy Measures Equitably) Act
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
And the Oscar for Best Paper Goes To … | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Transit-Oriented Upzoning in Colorado Can Deliver Jobs, Growth, and Affordability
Colorado House of Representatives, Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee | HB 24-1313 Housing in Transit-Oriented Communities
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Market-Rate Rents Can Serve Moderate-Income Marylanders
Maryland Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee SB 484, Land Use - Affordable Housing - Zoning Density and Permitting
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Accessory Dwelling Units Can Help Unlock Housing Affordability in Colorado
Colorado House Transportation, Housing, and Local Government Committee, HB24-1152, Accessory Dwelling Units
- | Housing Housing
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
After Milton Referendum, Housing Advocates Sift Through Optimism and Pessimism | WBUR
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Milton’s Zoning Referendum | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Legalizing ADUs and Duplexes Can Help Unlock Housing Affordability in New Hampshire
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Infill Housing Has Its Benefits but Won't Always Drive Down Costs | Governing
- | Housing Housing
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Urban Planning and Cities | The Great Antidote
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Expanding Maryland’s Housing Stock: A Roadmap to Meeting Housing Targets
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Vancouver’s Housing Challenges Are a Cautionary Tale for Successful, Well-managed Cities | Discourse
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Duplex Reform Would Assist Housing Affordability in Nebraska
Nebraska Urban Affairs Committee | LB 1165, Provide requirements for zoning regulations and duplex housing
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
ADU Reform Would Assist Housing Affordability in Nebraska
Nebraska Urban Affairs Committee | LB 1166, Provide requirements for zoning regulations and accessory dwelling units
- | Housing Housing
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Are Tiny Homes Possible Solution in the Affordable Housing Crisis? | WOSU
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Lifting Onerous Occupancy Requirements Can Help Unlock Housing Affordability
New Hampshire House Municipal and County Government Committee House Bill 1281, Relative to zoning restrictions on residential rental property
Latest work in Housing
- | Housing Housing
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Less but Better Zoning
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Colorado Can Improve Housing Affordability by Requiring a Health and Safety Basis for Occupancy Limits
Colorado Senate Local Government and Housing Committee | House Bill 24-1007, The HOME (Harmonizing Occupancy Measures Equitably) Act
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
And the Oscar for Best Paper Goes To … | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Transit-Oriented Upzoning in Colorado Can Deliver Jobs, Growth, and Affordability
Colorado House of Representatives, Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee | HB 24-1313 Housing in Transit-Oriented Communities
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Market-Rate Rents Can Serve Moderate-Income Marylanders
Maryland Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee SB 484, Land Use - Affordable Housing - Zoning Density and Permitting
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Accessory Dwelling Units Can Help Unlock Housing Affordability in Colorado
Colorado House Transportation, Housing, and Local Government Committee, HB24-1152, Accessory Dwelling Units
- | Housing Housing
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
After Milton Referendum, Housing Advocates Sift Through Optimism and Pessimism | WBUR
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Milton’s Zoning Referendum | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Legalizing ADUs and Duplexes Can Help Unlock Housing Affordability in New Hampshire
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Infill Housing Has Its Benefits but Won't Always Drive Down Costs | Governing
- | Housing Housing
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Urban Planning and Cities | The Great Antidote
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Expanding Maryland’s Housing Stock: A Roadmap to Meeting Housing Targets
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Vancouver’s Housing Challenges Are a Cautionary Tale for Successful, Well-managed Cities | Discourse
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Duplex Reform Would Assist Housing Affordability in Nebraska
Nebraska Urban Affairs Committee | LB 1165, Provide requirements for zoning regulations and duplex housing
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
ADU Reform Would Assist Housing Affordability in Nebraska
Nebraska Urban Affairs Committee | LB 1166, Provide requirements for zoning regulations and accessory dwelling units
- | Housing Housing
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Are Tiny Homes Possible Solution in the Affordable Housing Crisis? | WOSU
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Lifting Onerous Occupancy Requirements Can Help Unlock Housing Affordability
New Hampshire House Municipal and County Government Committee House Bill 1281, Relative to zoning restrictions on residential rental property
Latest work in Housing
- | Housing Housing
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Less but Better Zoning
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Expanding Maryland’s Housing Stock: A Roadmap to Meeting Housing Targets
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
How to Streamline Housing Permitting in Connecticut
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
How to Streamline Housing Permitting in Virginia
- | Housing Housing
- | Working Papers Working Papers
The Effects of Minimum-Lot-Size Reform on Houston Land Values
- | Housing Housing
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Cutting Zoning Down to Size
Reevaluating the Legal Vulnerability of Urban Minimum Lot Sizes
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Housing Reform in the States: A Menu of Options for 2024
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Four Elements of a Successful Housing Task Force: Lessons from the Montana Miracle
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Urban Minimum Lot Sizes: Their Background, Effects, and Avenues to Reform
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Breaking Ground: An Examination of Effective State Housing Reforms in 2023
- | Housing Housing
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Home Price Trends Point to a Worsening Lack of Supply
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Learning from Houston’s Townhouse Reforms
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
A Taxonomy of State Accessory Dwelling Unit Laws
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Legalizing Accessory Dwelling Units at the State Level: A New Hampshire Case Study
- | Housing Housing
- | Journal Articles Journal Articles
Single-Family Zoning and Race: Evidence From the Twin Cities | Housing Policy Debate
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Mostly Invisible: The Cost of Valid Petitions in Texas
Legislators Ought to either Reform the Valid Petition Process To Be Less Onerous and More Democratic or Do Away With It Altogether
- | Housing Housing
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Reassessing the Role of Supply and Demand on Housing Bubble Prices
- | Housing Housing
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Understanding Tokyo's Land Use: The Power of Microspaces
Latest work in Housing
- | Housing Housing
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
After Milton Referendum, Housing Advocates Sift Through Optimism and Pessimism | WBUR
- | Housing Housing
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Urban Planning and Cities | The Great Antidote
- | Housing Housing
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Are Tiny Homes Possible Solution in the Affordable Housing Crisis? | WOSU
- | Housing Housing
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Conversations That Matter: How Markets Shape Cities | The Vancouver Sun
- | Housing Housing
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Innovative Approaches to Affordable Housing in Northwest Arkansas | "I am Northwest Arkansas"
- | Housing Housing
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Affordable Housing | KTAR Radio (Arizona)
- | Housing Housing
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
How a Decline in Home Sales Also Trips up Retail | Marketplace Radio
- | Housing Housing
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Ideas of India: Order Without Design
- | Housing Housing
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Hawaii’s Housing Shortage Explained | ThinkTech Hawaii
- | Housing Housing
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Rethinking the Role of Government in City Development | CID Harvard
- | Housing Housing
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Housing Reform in Montana | KBUL-AM’s “Montana Talks”
- | Housing Housing
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Inclusionary Zoning and Its Exclusionary Effects | Urbanize Los Angeles’ "Cityspeak"
- | Housing Housing
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
The Arbitrary Lines of Zoning | Streetblog's "Talking Headways"
- | Housing Housing
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Developers Press on with Apartment Building as Would-Be Homeowners Rent Instead | Marketplace Radio
- | Housing Housing
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Inclusionary Zoning with Emily Hamilton | UCLA's "Housing Voice"
- | Housing Housing
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Zoning Out Growth | City Journal's "10 Blocks"
- | Housing Housing
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Arbitrary Lines, The Case Against Zoning with Nolan Gray, UCLA Lewis Center | Gov Love
- | Housing Housing
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Land Use Regulation and the Growing Cost of Housing | Working Capital: The Real Estate Podcast
Latest work in Housing
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Colorado Can Improve Housing Affordability by Requiring a Health and Safety Basis for Occupancy Limits
Colorado Senate Local Government and Housing Committee | House Bill 24-1007, The HOME (Harmonizing Occupancy Measures Equitably) Act
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Transit-Oriented Upzoning in Colorado Can Deliver Jobs, Growth, and Affordability
Colorado House of Representatives, Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee | HB 24-1313 Housing in Transit-Oriented Communities
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Market-Rate Rents Can Serve Moderate-Income Marylanders
Maryland Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee SB 484, Land Use - Affordable Housing - Zoning Density and Permitting
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Accessory Dwelling Units Can Help Unlock Housing Affordability in Colorado
Colorado House Transportation, Housing, and Local Government Committee, HB24-1152, Accessory Dwelling Units
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Legalizing ADUs and Duplexes Can Help Unlock Housing Affordability in New Hampshire
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Duplex Reform Would Assist Housing Affordability in Nebraska
Nebraska Urban Affairs Committee | LB 1165, Provide requirements for zoning regulations and duplex housing
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
ADU Reform Would Assist Housing Affordability in Nebraska
Nebraska Urban Affairs Committee | LB 1166, Provide requirements for zoning regulations and accessory dwelling units
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Lifting Onerous Occupancy Requirements Can Help Unlock Housing Affordability
New Hampshire House Municipal and County Government Committee House Bill 1281, Relative to zoning restrictions on residential rental property
- | Housing Housing
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Housing Affordability: Trends, Shocks, and State Legislation
- | Housing Housing
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Hamilton Response to Questions for the Record
- | Housing Housing
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Improving Housing Affordability by Reducing Barriers to Housing Construction
Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance of the US House Committee on Financial Services | Housing Affordability: Governmental Barriers and Market-Based Solutions
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Minimum Lot Size Regulations Are a Barrier to Homeownership in Dallas
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Setting Minimum Zoning Requirements for Multifamily Housing
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Allowing More Housing Would Contribute To Housing Affordability In Massachusetts
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Options for Pennsylvania to Ease Barriers to Housing Construction
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Allowing Accessory Dwelling Units Would Contribute to Housing Affordability in North Carolina
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Valid Petitions and Limited Government in Texas
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
State Policymakers' Role in Protecting the Right to Build Housing in Colorado
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Allowing Accessory Dwelling Units Would Contribute to Housing Affordability in Texas
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
State Policymakers’ Role in Protecting the Right to Build Housing in Texas
Latest work in Housing
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
And the Oscar for Best Paper Goes To … | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Milton’s Zoning Referendum | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Infill Housing Has Its Benefits but Won't Always Drive Down Costs | Governing
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Vancouver’s Housing Challenges Are a Cautionary Tale for Successful, Well-managed Cities | Discourse
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Houston as an Affordability Model | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
[UPDATED] Resources for Reformers: Houston’s Minimum Lot Sizes | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
This Supreme Court Case From California Could Ease Housing Shortages Everywhere | Los Angeles Times
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Hopefully, AI Will Create a Perpetual Housing Crisis | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
An Autopsy of Hsieh & Moretti | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
What Is Wrong with Henry George-Type Taxation? | City Journal
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Zoning Plans Are Wasting Scarce Land Supply | The Vancouver Sun
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Pedestrianized Streets Usually Fail – and That’s Ok | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Gentrification: An LVT Would Do That | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Will Congestion Pricing Hurt Cities? | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Finding the Right Balance | Discourse
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Rhode Island’s housing process package | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Bipartisan Hope for Affordable Housing Emerges in the West | Governing
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How DC Densified | Works in Progress
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary