A lot of the arguments against urban sprawl are kind of solutions desperately searching for a problem. I just don't entirely understand them and find the argument that like, well, it's cost a lot of money. You know, one of the things they allow on their fringes is something called municipal utility districts. And basically have two people raise their hand and say, I agree to vote for a mud in my district and we'll tax ourselves to do the mud. The only way you can get someone to pay for them is to encourage them to move to that place in the first place because there's nobody there yet.
Economic historian Judge Glock talks to EconTalk host Russ Roberts about zoning and the housing market. Glock argues the impact on zoning on housing affordability is small and that we should learn to love property taxes as long as they're administered properly. The conversation includes a discussion of the environmental impact of urban sprawl--Glock argues sprawl has certain environmental benefits.