Housing has gotten SO expensive — for many of us, buying something seems totally out of reach. And even renting a decent apartment is a struggle these days. Who, or what, is to blame for these high prices? We track down the culprit with urban planner Prof. Nicole Gurran and attorney Prof. Sara Bronin.  Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsAffordableHousingIn this episode, we cover:(00:00) The Crime(03:48) Suspect 1: Greedy developers(07:20) Suspect 2: AirBnB(14:20) Suspect 3: Zoning(24:00) The Twist!This episode was produced by Rose Rimler along with Wendy Zukerman, with help from Joel Werner, R.E. Natowicz, Meryl Horn, and Michelle Dang. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Eva Dasher. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Emma Munger, and Bobby Lord. Thanks to everyone we reached out to for this episode, including Dr. Yonah Freemark, Prof. Stephen Sheppard, , Prof. Sonia Hirt, Prof. Solly Angel, Dr. Sherry Bokhari, Dr. Salim Furth, Dr. Norbert Michel, Dr. Max Holleran, Prof. Manuel Aalbers, Prof. Kirk McClure, Dr. Kate Pennington, Prof. Joseph Gyourko, Prof. Jessica Trounstine, Jenna Davis, Dr. Jake Wegmann, Prof. Hui Li, Dr. Edward Kung, Dr. David Wachsmuth, Dr. Brian Doucet, Dr. Aradhya Sood, Dr. Stan Oklobdzija, and Dr. Andrew Whittemore.Special thanks to Meg Driscoll, Flora Lichtman and a big thanks to our voice actors: Aliza Rood, Annie Minoff, Chantelle Young, Valentina Powers, Alena Acker, Krystian Zun, and Moo. Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sara Bronin, an insightful author, discusses her book, Key to the City, unraveling the often unseen forces of zoning. She highlights how zoning can perpetuate car dependency and social inequities while showcasing stories from activists who are reshaping urban landscapes. Bronin emphasizes the potential for zoning to foster vibrant, pedestrian-friendly communities, emphasizing cases from cities like Hartford and Minneapolis. Listeners learn that with a better understanding of zoning, we can create inclusive and sustainable environments for all.

Sara Bronin, a Professor of Law and Urban Planning at Cornell, discusses her book on how zoning shapes society, tackling the housing crisis and the NIMBYism that limits housing availability. Deidre Hanford, CEO of Natcast, dives into the semiconductor sector's evolution, emphasizing the need for innovation in response to global challenges. The conversation features urban revitalization strategies, balancing historic preservation, and the transformative potential of updated zoning codes in tackling climate change and enhancing community growth.