EconTalk Katherine Levine Einstein on Neighborhood Defenders
Dec 14, 2020
Katherine Levine Einstein, a political scientist at Boston University and author of Neighborhood Defenders, dives into the complexities of affordable housing. She explores the role of 'neighborhood defenders' who resist new developments, challenging the notion that they're merely selfish. The podcast reveals how community opposition often masks deeper biases and impedes housing progress. Einstein also discusses the dynamics of volunteer decision-making in local governance and critiques existing regulations that complicate housing efforts, advocating for clearer policies.
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Neighborhood Defenders vs. NIMBYs
- "Neighborhood defenders" view themselves as representing their community, not just themselves.
- This explains their influence on officials, who see them as community advocates.
Bootleggers and Baptists
- Russ Roberts challenges the sympathetic portrayal of neighborhood defenders, citing their frequent use of altruistic language to mask selfish motives.
- He draws a parallel to "bootleggers and Baptists," where politicians support policies benefiting special interests while claiming moral high ground.
Meeting Minutes Analysis
- Katherine Levine Einstein and her co-authors analyzed meeting minutes, including transcripts, to learn about participants' demographics, positions, and motivations regarding housing development.
- These minutes, accessible due to sunshine laws, reveal valuable information about local political processes.
