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
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Automobiles Seeded the Massive Coronavirus Epidemic in New York City
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
A Vision of Post-Pandemic New York
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
HUD is on the way to better fair housing accountability
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How Mortgages Can Ease the Downturn
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Nebraska Housing Reform Bill Fails to Go Far Enough
![gettyimages-1143351671.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/coh_small_height/public/d7/gettyimages-1143351671.jpg?itok=eLJRPgs5)
- | Housing Housing
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
HUD Can Use Housing Market Data to Inform Fair Housing Accountability
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
What’s Behind Falling Productivity: The Census May Hold the Answer
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Give Housing a Fairer (Public) Hearing
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Unbuildable American Home
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Right Fix for Opportunity Zones
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Allowing Missing Middle Development Would Contribute to Housing Affordability in Nebraska
Testimony before the Nebraska Legislature, Urban Affairs Committee
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Preempting Bans on Duplexes Can Improve Housing Affordability through Property Rights
Testimony before the Virginia House of Delegates, Counties, Cities, and Towns Committee, Land Use Subcommittee
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Allowing Accessory Dwelling Units Would Contribute to Housing Affordability in Virginia
Testimony before the Virginia House of Delegates, Counties, Cities, and Towns Committee, Land Use Subcommittee
- | Housing Housing
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Fewer Restrictions on Lending Can Make Housing More Affordable
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Should Virginia preempt local zoning to bring down housing costs?
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
California Can Improve Housing and Transit by Preempting Local Ordinances
- | Housing Housing
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Housing Affordability Is Attainable through Regulatory Reform
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Hopeful News on Housing
In 2019, Republican- and Democratic-dominated states and municipalities took some positive steps to encourage construction and improve affordability.
Latest work in Housing
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Automobiles Seeded the Massive Coronavirus Epidemic in New York City
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
A Vision of Post-Pandemic New York
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
HUD is on the way to better fair housing accountability
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How Mortgages Can Ease the Downturn
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Nebraska Housing Reform Bill Fails to Go Far Enough
![gettyimages-1143351671.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/coh_small_height/public/d7/gettyimages-1143351671.jpg?itok=eLJRPgs5)
- | Housing Housing
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
HUD Can Use Housing Market Data to Inform Fair Housing Accountability
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
What’s Behind Falling Productivity: The Census May Hold the Answer
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Give Housing a Fairer (Public) Hearing
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Unbuildable American Home
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Right Fix for Opportunity Zones
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Allowing Missing Middle Development Would Contribute to Housing Affordability in Nebraska
Testimony before the Nebraska Legislature, Urban Affairs Committee
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Preempting Bans on Duplexes Can Improve Housing Affordability through Property Rights
Testimony before the Virginia House of Delegates, Counties, Cities, and Towns Committee, Land Use Subcommittee
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Allowing Accessory Dwelling Units Would Contribute to Housing Affordability in Virginia
Testimony before the Virginia House of Delegates, Counties, Cities, and Towns Committee, Land Use Subcommittee
- | Housing Housing
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Fewer Restrictions on Lending Can Make Housing More Affordable
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Should Virginia preempt local zoning to bring down housing costs?
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
California Can Improve Housing and Transit by Preempting Local Ordinances
- | Housing Housing
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Housing Affordability Is Attainable through Regulatory Reform
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Hopeful News on Housing
In 2019, Republican- and Democratic-dominated states and municipalities took some positive steps to encourage construction and improve affordability.
Latest work in Housing
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Short-Term Deficits Grow Under President's Budget
![2012BudgetPNG.png](/sites/default/files/styles/coh_small_height/public/d7/2012BudgetPNG.png?itok=iVOWHiwu)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Debt Held by the Public Nearly Doubles by 2021
![debtpublicPNG.png](/sites/default/files/styles/coh_small_height/public/d7/debtpublicPNG.png?itok=s3qMPrOa)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Value Added Tax: Impacts on Florida
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Total State Expenditures by Funding Source
![statespending2PNG.png](/sites/default/files/styles/coh_small_height/public/d7/statespending2PNG.png?itok=JDWXHzqr)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Stimulus Facts Data for Q4 FY 2010
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Eleven Ideas for State Legislatures in 2011
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
States' Real Liabilities
![states-liabilities-jpg.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/coh_small_height/public/d7/states-liabilities-jpg.jpg?itok=sp7QZ8Ih)
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Journal Articles Journal Articles
Maryland's Fiscal Slide
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Getting an Accurate Picture of State Pension Liabilities
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Growth in Real Per Capita Spending, All States: 1987 - 2009
![state-spending-componentsPNG2.png](/sites/default/files/styles/coh_small_height/public/d7/state-spending-componentsPNG2.png?itok=zarS5MzC)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Working Papers Working Papers
TEL It Like It Is
Do State Tax and Expenditure Limits Actually Limit Spending?
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Journal Articles Journal Articles
Internalizing Externalities Through Private Zoning
The Case of Walt Disney Company's Celebration, Florida
![7-25-2014-2-53-33-PM.png](/sites/default/files/styles/coh_small_height/public/d7/7-25-2014-2-53-33-PM.png?itok=cQNSrWyw)
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Binge Thinking
A Look at the Social Impact of State Liquor Controls
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Ratcheting Taxes
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
New Jersey State Spending, 1987-2009
![NJSpendingpngsmaller.png](/sites/default/files/styles/coh_small_height/public/d7/NJSpendingpngsmaller.png?itok=IT744ag6)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Spending Restraint in Florida
![mercatus_on_policy_3.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/coh_small_height/public/d7/mercatus_on_policy_3.jpg?itok=Oliz7VVg)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Current Spending Cuts Insufficient to Balance Budgets in the Long Run
![state-spending-cutsLongRun.png](/sites/default/files/styles/coh_small_height/public/d7/state-spending-cutsLongRun.png?itok=M64qAzYy)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Do Intergovernmental Grants Create Ratchets in State and Local Taxes?
Research Summary
- | Housing Housing
- | Research Papers Research Papers
State of the State Pensions
States underestimate public sector pension liabilities
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Working Papers Working Papers
State Spending Restraint
An Analysis of the Path Not Taken
![working_paper_12.gif](/sites/default/files/styles/coh_small_height/public/d7/working_paper_12.gif?itok=A-tvajXD)
Latest work in Housing
Latest work in Housing
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Infrastructure Needs Innovation
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How Virginia Can Save Money and Cut Red Tape at the Same Time
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Rents in Megacities Can't Go Up Forever
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Having 50 States Is a Bit of a Drag
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
In Illinois, 259,900 Words That Restrict Businesses
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Ohio Workers' Retirement Money Is at Risk
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Does a National Public Infrastructure Bank Make Sense?
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Make Infrastructure Pay for Itself
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Broke Cities
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
For Public Pensions, the Future Is Now
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
People Are Giving Up Instead of Moving to Opportunity—and That's Not Good
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Rules That Wreck Housing Affordability
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Trump's Problematic Infrastructure Plan
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Local Governments Can Lay the Foundation for Economic Prosperity but They Can't Build It
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Make Regulations Democratic Again
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Fewer Regulations Key to Scranton's Revival
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Will Trump's Policies Help Appalachia and Similar Places?
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Smart Cities Require Smart Policy
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Rust-Belt Cities and Moving to Opportunity: It's Time to Get Back on the 'Hillbilly Highway'
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary