I was published in the Atlantic Today
On Housing and Antitrust. Please read and share.
Dear readers,
I am excited to share I had a piece published in the Atlantic today. Here is a gift link.
The Biggest Myth About the YIMBY Movement
There’s nothing centrist or conservative about the push to lower housing costs.
In it, I argue that the pro-supply parts of the housing movement are not driven by the instincts of deregulation, even when phrases like “cut red tape” are used. Instead, our guiding light is antitrust economics.
I show that—where YIMBYs are deregulating—we are only doing so with a scalpel designed to undermine the capture of the regulatory state by a landowner cartel that has rigged a market.
This makes for a better description of facts on the ground, as much of the YIMBY movement actually support housing regulation that protects consumers and the environment.
I also address the concerns of some national “anti-monopolist” advocates who (rightly!) worry about corporate rule.
Finally, I suggest too much of the recent national conversation about housing fixates on the Bay Area, arguing that is more outlier than archetype. I then share stories from Washington State, where a coalition largely comprised of progressive organizations has been the key support network for pro housing legislative advances.
Please share it with everyone you know!
The Biggest Myth About the YIMBY Movement
There’s nothing centrist or conservative about the push to lower housing costs.
