Removing Barriers to Accessing High-Productivity Places

The Problem

Historically, Americans have moved to the parts of the country that offered the highest wages and most economic opportunity. However, this dynamic has faltered in recent decades, as land-use restrictions have limited housing availability in America’s booming local economies. These regulatory constraints have shut millions of Americans out of the country’s most-productive labor markets.

The Proposal

The author proposes local land-use reforms to allow for an expanded stock of housing. Shoag also calls for state and federal action to promote pro-development policies. In particular, states should establish by-right development policies and federal policymakers should provide incentives to encourage local innovation in expanding access to housing.