80k After Hours Highlights: #211 – Sam Bowman on why housing still isn’t fixed and what would actually work
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Jan 6, 2025 
Sam Bowman, an economist and editor of Works in Progress, dives into the housing crisis in developed countries, emphasizing the powerful grip of NIMBYism. He presents innovative solutions like street votes to empower local residents and discusses property tax distribution's significant role. Sam argues that overcoming NIMBY opposition requires rethinking incentives and highlights the surprising local support for nuclear power. He also touches on the intersection of technology in public health, especially concerning obesity and food choices.
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UK vs US Housing
- The UK's housing crisis is concentrated in London, its political, financial, and economic center.
- This differs from the US, where 80% of cities don't have a significant gap between building costs and sale prices, indicating fewer regulatory barriers.
UK Infrastructure Struggles
- The UK struggles to build essential infrastructure. Examples include Heathrow Airport not having a new runway since 1990 and not building a reservoir since 1992.
- The Lower Thames Crossing tunnel's planning documentation cost more than building Norway's largest road tunnel.
Government Mandates Fail
- Top-down government mandates to override local objections to building projects often fail due to political resistance.
- These interventions don't address the core incentive problem.