Chad Syverson, an economics professor at the University of Chicago, Ed Glaeser from Harvard, and Vaughan Buckley, CEO of Volumetric Building Companies, dive into the perplexing inefficiencies of the U.S. construction sector. They discuss why construction productivity has stagnated since the 1970s, explore the potential of modular and prefabricated solutions, and share insights on the impact of regulations and labor dynamics. The conversation challenges preconceived notions about modular designs and highlights innovative approaches to address housing shortages.

Rebecca Diamond, an economics professor at Stanford, and Harvard's Ed Glaeser delve into the pitfalls of rent control. They discuss a new proposal from the Biden administration and why economists believe it spells disaster. The conversation uncovers historical contexts and unintended consequences of rent control measures, illustrating their impact on housing supply and affordability. With insights from case studies and real-world effects, they tackle the ongoing debate about the balance between tenant support and market realities.

Ed Glaeser, a Harvard Professor of Economics and author of Triumph of the City, discusses the challenges in rebuilding Los Angeles, particularly the Pacific Palisades after devastating fires. He examines the complexities of zoning laws and the impact of insurance fraud on pricing. Glaeser advocates for innovative redesigns to increase urban density and improve resilience. The conversation highlights the need for effective fire safety regulations and community responsibility, while promoting a pragmatic, compassionate approach to urban recovery and development.

In this engaging discussion, Ed Glaeser, a Harvard economist focusing on urban dynamics, and Diego Puga, an expert on regional economics, explore the vibrant role cities play in economic development. They highlight how urban areas attract talent and adapt to new populations. The duo emphasizes the need for research on urban growth in developing countries, addressing challenges like over-regulation, gender disparities, and the balance between economic opportunities and potential poverty traps. Their insights are a call to rethink urbanization strategies for a post-COVID world.

With remote work becoming more common and cities competing for businesses it’s become easier than ever before for educated Americans to relocate, leaving cities more vulnerable than they’ve ever been. In their new book, Survival of the City: Living and Thriving in an Age of Isolation, economists David Cutler and Ed Glaeser examine the factors that will allow some cities to succeed despite these challenges, while others fail.  They joined Tyler for a special joint episode to discuss why healthcare outcomes are so correlated with education, whether the health value of Google is positive or negative, why hospital price transparency is so difficult to achieve, how insurance coding systems reimburse sickness over health improvement, why the U.S. quit smoking before Europe, the best place in America to get sick, the risks that come from over-treatment, the possible upsides of more businesses moving out of cities, whether productivity gains from remote work will remain high, why the older parts of cities always seem to be more beautiful, whether urban schools will ever improve, why we shouldn’t view Rio de Janeiro’s favelas as a failure, how 19th century fights to deal with contagious diseases became a turning point for governance, Miami's prospects as the next tech hub, what David and Ed disagree on, and more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video. Recorded August 31st, 2021 Other ways to connect Follow us on Twitter and Instagram Follow Tyler on Twitter  Follow David on Twitter Email us: cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu Subscribe at our newsletter page to have the latest Conversations with Tyler news sent straight to your inbox.  Thumbnail photo credit: Briana Moore