Emily Hamilton
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Senior Research Fellow
Emily Hamilton is a Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Urbanity Project at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Her research focuses on urban economics and land-use policy. She publishes both academic research and policy work. Her writing has appeared in outlets including the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times, and she writes an occasional column at Governing. Hamilton has testified before several state legislatures as well as the U.S. House of Representatives. Hamilton serves on the Advisory Boards of Up for Growth and Cityscape, a journal published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. She received her PhD in economics from George Mason University.
Latest Work
- | Housing Housing
- | Amicus Briefs Amicus Briefs
Adams v. City of Seattle
Brief of Amici Curiae in support of appellant Anita Adams
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Reforming US Building Codes
The International Code Council needs to compare the costs and benefits of its recommended requirements.
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Declaration of Emily Hamilton in Support of Shelter WF, Inc., Montana Eighteenth Judicial District Court, Gallatin County
How exclusionary zoning limits housing construction, and how new housing construction improves housing affordability
- | Housing Housing
- | Journal Articles Journal Articles
The Effects of Minimum-Lot-Size Reform on Houston Land Values
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How U.S. Cities Can ‘Upzone’ Without Compromising Affordability
Critics of liberalizing housing construction are concerned that looser zoning rules could make existing houses more expensive. Fortunately, this worry is somewhat overblown.
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
State Policymakers’ Role in Protecting the Right to Build Housing in Kansas
Kansas State Legislature, 2024 Special Committee on Available and Affordable Housing
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
More Housing, Less Participatory Democracy | Discourse
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Housing Reform in the States: A Menu of Options for 2025
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
A Taxonomy of State Accessory Dwelling Unit Laws 2024
- | Housing Housing
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Most Northern Virginia Land Is Reserved for Single-family-detached Homes, Research Finds | WAMU Radio
Latest Work
- | Housing Housing
- | Amicus Briefs Amicus Briefs
Adams v. City of Seattle
Brief of Amici Curiae in support of appellant Anita Adams
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Reforming US Building Codes
The International Code Council needs to compare the costs and benefits of its recommended requirements.
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Declaration of Emily Hamilton in Support of Shelter WF, Inc., Montana Eighteenth Judicial District Court, Gallatin County
How exclusionary zoning limits housing construction, and how new housing construction improves housing affordability
- | Housing Housing
- | Journal Articles Journal Articles
The Effects of Minimum-Lot-Size Reform on Houston Land Values
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How U.S. Cities Can ‘Upzone’ Without Compromising Affordability
Critics of liberalizing housing construction are concerned that looser zoning rules could make existing houses more expensive. Fortunately, this worry is somewhat overblown.
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
State Policymakers’ Role in Protecting the Right to Build Housing in Kansas
Kansas State Legislature, 2024 Special Committee on Available and Affordable Housing
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
More Housing, Less Participatory Democracy | Discourse
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Housing Reform in the States: A Menu of Options for 2025
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
A Taxonomy of State Accessory Dwelling Unit Laws 2024
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Missing Middle: Supply vs. Aesthetics in the Drive for New Housing | Governing
Latest Work
- | Housing Housing
- | Journal Articles Journal Articles
The Effects of Minimum-Lot-Size Reform on Houston Land Values
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Housing Reform in the States: A Menu of Options for 2025
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
A Taxonomy of State Accessory Dwelling Unit Laws 2024
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Expanding Maryland’s Housing Stock: A Roadmap to Meeting Housing Targets
- | Housing Housing
- | Working Papers Working Papers
The Effects of Minimum-Lot-Size Reform on Houston Land Values
- | 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
Learning from Houston’s Townhouse Reforms
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Legalizing Accessory Dwelling Units at the State Level: A New Hampshire Case Study
Latest Work
- | Housing Housing
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Most Northern Virginia Land Is Reserved for Single-family-detached Homes, Research Finds | WAMU Radio
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Housing Deregulation | “The Great Antidote”
- | Housing Housing
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Innovative Approaches to Affordable Housing in Northwest Arkansas | "I am Northwest Arkansas"
- | 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
- | 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
Land Use Regulation and the Growing Cost of Housing | Working Capital: The Real Estate Podcast
Latest Work
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Declaration of Emily Hamilton in Support of Shelter WF, Inc., Montana Eighteenth Judicial District Court, Gallatin County
How exclusionary zoning limits housing construction, and how new housing construction improves housing affordability
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
State Policymakers’ Role in Protecting the Right to Build Housing in Kansas
Kansas State Legislature, 2024 Special Committee on Available and Affordable Housing
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Market-Driven Parking Supply Can Help Colorado Families
Colorado Senate, Local Government and Housing Committee, HB24-1304 Minimum Parking Requirements
- | 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
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
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
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Reforming US Building Codes
The International Code Council needs to compare the costs and benefits of its recommended requirements.
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How U.S. Cities Can ‘Upzone’ Without Compromising Affordability
Critics of liberalizing housing construction are concerned that looser zoning rules could make existing houses more expensive. Fortunately, this worry is somewhat overblown.
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
More Housing, Less Participatory Democracy | Discourse
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Missing Middle: Supply vs. Aesthetics in the Drive for New Housing | Governing
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
This Map Can Help Address Northern Virginia’s High Housing Costs | Greater Greater Washington
- | 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
Houston as an Affordability Model | 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
Bipartisan Hope for Affordable Housing Emerges in the West | Governing
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary