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
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Most Northern Virginia Land Is Reserved for Single-family-detached Homes, Research Finds | WAMU Radio
- | 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
- | 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
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Infill Housing Has Its Benefits but Won't Always Drive Down Costs | Governing
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Expanding Maryland’s Housing Stock: A Roadmap to Meeting Housing Targets
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Houston as an Affordability Model | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Hamilton Response to Questions for the Record
- | Housing Housing
- | Working Papers Working Papers
The Effects of Minimum-Lot-Size Reform on Houston Land Values
Latest Work
- | Housing Housing
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Most Northern Virginia Land Is Reserved for Single-family-detached Homes, Research Finds | WAMU Radio
- | 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
- | 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
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Infill Housing Has Its Benefits but Won't Always Drive Down Costs | Governing
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Expanding Maryland’s Housing Stock: A Roadmap to Meeting Housing Targets
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Houston as an Affordability Model | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Hamilton Response to Questions for the Record
- | Housing Housing
- | Working Papers Working Papers
The Effects of Minimum-Lot-Size Reform on Houston Land Values
Latest Work
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
A Taxonomy of State Accessory Dwelling Unit Laws
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Housing Reform in the States: A Menu of Options for 2023
- | Housing Housing
- | Journal Articles Journal Articles
Inclusionary Zoning and Housing Market Outcomes
- | Housing Housing
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Legislative Exits From the Land Use Labyrinth
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Book Chapters Book Chapters
Land Use Regulation and Housing Affordability
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Inclusionary Zoning Hurts More Than It Helps
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Pandemic Recovery and State and Local Pension Reform
- | Housing Housing
- | Working Papers Working Papers
The Politics of Redevelopment Planning in Tysons and Outcomes 10 Years Later
Latest Work
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Mercatus Original Podcasts Mercatus Original Podcasts
- | Macro Musings Macro Musings
Emily Hamilton on the Current State of the U.S. Housing Market and Solutions for Reform
Widespread housing shortfalls and problematic zoning laws are just a few of the issues facing today’s housing market, but there are numerous options for meaningful reform.

- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Zoning Our Way Through It | The Weeds Podcast
- | Mercatus Original Podcasts Mercatus Original Podcasts
- | Mercatus Policy Download Mercatus Policy Download
Land Use Without Zoning: Putting Ideas into Practice
What can the city of Houston teach us about land use and zoning?

- | Housing Housing
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Emily Hamilton on Political Economy with James Pethokoukis - Fixing America’s Housing Problem
- | Housing Housing
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Emily Hamilton on WHYY - Special Zoning Districts
- | Housing Housing
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Emily Hamilton on C-SPAN - Housing Policy Under Biden (Part 1)
- | Housing Housing
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Emily Hamilton on C-SPAN - Housing Policy Under Biden (Part 2)
- | Housing Housing
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Emily Hamilton on C-SPAN - Housing Policy Under Biden (Part 3)
Latest Work
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
State Policymakers’ Role in Protecting the Right to Build Housing in Texas
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
State Policymakers' Role in Protecting the Right to Build Housing in Montana
- | Housing Housing
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Improving Opportunities for Multifamily Housing in Virginia
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
State Policymakers' Role in Protecting the Right to Build Workforce Housing in Texas
Texas House of Representatives Committee on Urban Affairs
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
State Policymakers' Role in Protecting Short-Term Rental Rights in Ohio
Ohio House State and Local Government Committee
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Property Rights Can Protect Attainable Housing in Texas
Texas House of Representatives | Land and Resource Management Committee
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Inclusionary Zoning and Housing Market Outcomes
Testimony before the Cincinnati City Council Equitable Growth and Housing Committee
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Protecting Property Owners and Housing Affordability in Tennessee
Tennessee Senate Committee on Judiciary
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Allowing Accessory Dwelling Units Would Contribute to Housing Affordability in Maryland
Maryland House Environment and Transportation Committee
- | Housing Housing
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Allowing Accessory Dwelling Units Would Contribute to Housing Affordability in Maryland
Maryland Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee
Latest Work
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Zoning Policies Intended To Support Agricultural Abundance Are Failing | Farming Abundance
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How ‘Granny Flats’ Can Help Preserve Texas’ Middle Class | The Dallas Morning News
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Role of ADUs in Easing America's Housing Crisis | Governing
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Why Is It So Hard To Find an Affordable City To Raise a Family? | The New York Times' Twitter Space
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Welcome Michael Nahas | Market Urbanism
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Zoning Out American Families | Discourse
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
What Critics of Diversifying Arlington’s Housing get Wrong | The Washington Post
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Why Tokyo Works | Discourse
- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Colorado Moves the Ball on Housing Affordability Reform—Will Other States Pick It Up?
How the Centennial State’s encouraging new policy works and why other states can build off of it to lower their own housing costs.

- | Housing Housing
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary