Zoning Laws and Mobility Stagnation

This chapter explores the historical origins of housing regulations, specifically zoning laws from the 1970s, and their detrimental effects on American mobility. It discusses how these regulations restricted land use and perpetuated discrimination against certain communities, particularly focusing on the experiences of Chinese immigrant laundry businesses in Modesto, California. The chapter also examines the broader social and economic consequences of reduced mobility, such as rising housing costs, demographic shifts, and the impact on civic engagement and political polarization.