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How cities can drive opportunity for the bulk of their citizens
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Urban Reform Institute is a 501c3 Non-Profit organization
that exists to promote approaches that enable cities to
drive opportunity for the bulk of their citizens.
Comparing the Inflating Costs of Houston Highways vs. Transit
in Planning, Politics & Policy/by Tory GattisInflation is causing huge cost increases for all types of infrastructure projects; this week we compare Houston highway vs. transit cost inflation.
The Death of Texas High-Speed Rail
in Planning, Politics & Policy/by Tory GattisThe death of Texas high-speed rail looks imminent based on the recent news of the CEO’s departure, but the economics never made sense unless Japan was willing to heavily subsidize the program in order to show off their trains in America (hoping for future sales).
Demographia United States Housing Affordability – 2022 Edition Released
in Demographics, Economics, Housing, Reports/by Wendell CoxDemographia United States Housing Affordability rates housing affordability using the median multiple, a measurement of income in relation to housing prices, or 189 major markets (metropolitan areas) for the third quarter of 2021.
Post HTX Diversity, Housing Costs Hurt Education and more
in Demographics, Economics/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Big increases in housing costs since 2000 have likely eaten most of the wage premium return from getting a college education, reducing the incentive to invest in education.
Solving the Housing Shortage, and Houston Popular for Relocation
in Housing/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Wall Street Journal finds that the housing shortage is caused by a combination of zoning and financing rules and supply-chain constraints.
Metro’s Inner Katy BRT Plan, and Urban Exodus Trend
in Economics, Urban Issues/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Metro’s Inner Katy BRT plan looks good except for TXDoT’s duplicative plans for vehicle traffic lanes to replace lost access to existing HOV lanes. And, the urban exodus continues.
Houston’s Mini-Kaihatsu, Sinking False Alarm, and more
in Economics, Planning/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Houston’s reported rate of sinking may be a false alarm in terms of the city actually disappearing below sea level, and a new book notes similarities between Tokyo’s mini-kaihatsu and Houston’s townhouse developments.
Silliness of Induced Demand Arguments, NZ MUD Troubles, and more
in Economics, Planning/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — On the silliness of the induced demand anti-freeway-expansion argument; taxpayers *want* government to invest in infrastructure where there is demand!
Ultimate Agglomeration Diseconomy: The Standard of Living
in Demographics, Economics, Housing, Suburbs/by Wendell CoxWendell Cox — It is hard to imagine a more destructive agglomeration effect than reducing the standard of living. Yet this is what the loss of housing affordability does.
Webinar: RCLCO and Urban Reform Institute Discuss Next American Cities
in Event, Housing, Politics & Policy/by COUOn Thursday, April 28th, join the webinar as RCLCO and Urban Reform Institute discuss the Next American Cities, emerging cities that reflect a new kind of suburbanization.