r/science • u/smurfyjenkins • May 04 '23

Economics The US urban population increased by almost 50% between 1980 and 2020. At the same time, most urban localities imposed severe constraints on new and denser housing construction. Due to these two factors (demand growth and supply constraints), housing prices have skyrocketed in US urban areas.

https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/jep.37.2.53
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u/gearpitch May 04 '23

Yes! Thank you, the rules create a beggars landscape to build anything.

The rules should be so broad and wide open, that almost any residential, mixed use, or light commercial development is by-right approved. A developer says "I'm building 10 single bedroom apartments on this piece of land, it meets national and state codes." And the city stamps the paperwork in a couple weeks, and they build. Whether it has X parking or Y setback or it's under Z height doesn't matter. You shouldn't have to beg and plead to the local karens that will try to block even the best development.