The Importance of Building New Hazards

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

We need to build at least 2 million new homes, mostly in the South of England. I definitely agree that we need a lot more places for people to live. But my contention would be we have an incredible stock of buildings which are unoccupied. You go into any British market town and you will see half the shops are empty. And if you look above the shops, these are generally speaking 19th and early 20th century buildings. The buildings are completely empty. These could all provide wonderful places for people To live by living a town myself. With a bit of will to say let's use the things we have, let's adapt them.

Anna Keay is a historian who specializes in the cultural heritage of Great Britain. As the director of the Landmark Trust, she has overseen the restoration of numerous historical buildings and monuments, while also serving as a prolific author and commentator on the country's architectural and artistic traditions. Her book, The Restless Republic: Britain Without a Crown, was one of Tyler’s top picks for 2022.

Tyler sat down with Anna to discuss the most plausible scenario where England could’ve remained a republic in the 17th century, what Robert Boyle learned from Sir William Petty, why some monarchs build palaces and others don’t, how renting from the Landmark Trust compares to Airbnb, how her job changes her views on wealth taxes, why neighborhood architecture has declined, how she’d handle the UK’s housing shortage, why giving back the Koh-i-Noor would cause more problems than it solves, why British houses have so little storage, the hardest part about living in an 800-year-old house, her favorite John Fowles book, why we should do more to preserve the Scottish Enlightenment, and more.

Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video.

Recorded February 23rd, 2023

Other ways to connect

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram
Follow Tyler on Twitter
Follow Anna on Twitter
Email us: cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu
Learn more about Conversations with Tyler and other Mercatus Center podcasts here.