Report: Building the New America
How do we build a new urban model for America — one that is better aligned with the aspirations of most Americans? This newly released report examines the housing trends that are driving today's migration of people and jobs.
Beyond Feudalism: Addressing California’s Inequality Crisis (Live Event)
On the 6th Feudal Future episode, discuss California's inequality crisis and how state policy changes could restore the middle class.
Misleading Poverty Stats, What $250K Buys You in Houston, Density and Transit vs. COVID
Houston allows even the poorest to come here seeking opportunity rather than blocking them out thru restrictive housing policy. And their point about rich neighborhoods being next to poor ones is also great! That means there is affordable housing near the jobs (esp. service jobs). Every major job center in Houston has affordable neighborhoods within a 15-minute transit ride.
Is the California Dream Finished?
by Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky — Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers should stop trying to sell the myth of the California dream. The biggest drivers of California’s poverty and staggering inequality are low-wage jobs and extraordinarily high housing costs. But it’s not too late to change course...
Environmental Dogma & Destruction: How California’s Climate Policies Hurt the Middle Class
In the fourth episode of the Feudal Future podcast, hosts Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky interview Jennifer Hernandez, a partner with Holland & Knight Law Firm in its California offices. Her firm is one of the most prominent in the world of environmental regulations, including California environmental law.
Houston Most Affordable High-Growth Metro
by Tory Gattis — Houston is the most affordable high-growth metro, with rents more affordable than Dallas, Austin or even San Antonio. Other affordable metros are slow-growth to stagnant or declining.
From Tragedy to Opportunity: We Could Live Better When Today’s Mayhem Ends
by Joel Kotkin — Beyond the depressing statistics, the deserted malls, the looted or abandoned Main Streets, lies the potential to use the pandemic to create the impetus for better, more sustainable and family-centric communities.
Klineberg plugs Houspitality, HTX outbuilds NYC, escape from New York, and more
by Tory Gattis — if you're looking for something new to read during this lockdown, I wanted to suggest a new book from Rice's Stephen Klineberg: The Prophetic City - Houston on the Cusp of a Changing America, all about how we've evolved over recent decades through the lens of his annual Houston Area Survey. Houston Strategies and Houspitality get a mention!
2020 Standard of Living Index
Urban Reform Institute has developed the Standard of Living Index to facilitate comparisons between metropolitan areas. The Index combines a cost of living index with median household incomes in the 107 metropolitan areas with more than 500,000 residents.
A Policy of Delusion and Misdirection
A new report authored by Joel Kotkin, Ali Modarres, and Wendell Cox examines how California's planning policies are contributing to the affordable housing crisis. An excerpt follows and a link to read/download the entire report.
A Look At Demographia’s Latest Housing Affordability Survey
by Prakash Loungani — In this interview, Wendell Cox talks about Demographia’s latest housing affordability survey. Wendell Cox is an American urban policy analyst and academic. He is the principal of Demographia (Wendell Cox Consultancy). The survey is co-authored with Hugh Pavletich of Performance Urban Planning.