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Liberalizing cities | From the bottom up

“Market Urbanism” refers to the synthesis of classical liberal economics and ethics (market), with an appreciation of the urban way of life and its benefits to society (urbanism). We advocate for the emergence of bottom up solutions to urban issues, as opposed to ones imposed from the top down.

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Jeff Fong

jeff fong

Jeff graduated from San Jose State University in 2011 where he studied Politics and Economics. He spent two years working in financial services before joining a startup focused on urban transportation. Since then he has become increasingly interested in urban economics as well as transportation policy and spends much of his free time reading, writing, and researching.

Detroit: LVT would fix that

June 14, 2023 By Jeff Fong

In a recent Mackinac Policy conference, Detroit's Mayor Mike Dugan proposed *drum roll* a land value tax. Sort of. Mayor Dugan’s proposal would create separate tax rates for land and capital improvements (i.e. the buildings on top). Specifically, he wants to decrease the tax rate on buildings by … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: blight, Detroit, Henry George, land value tax, LVT, property taxes

Book Review: Arbitrary Lines – How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It

June 20, 2022 By Jeff Fong

Arbitrary Lines is the newest must read book on zoning by land use scholar and Market Urbanism contributor, Nolan Gray. The book is split into three sections, starting with what zoning is and where it comes from followed by chapters on its varied negative effects, and ending with recommendations for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Review Tagged With: activism, book review, Urban Planning, YIMBYism, zoning

Land Value Taxation and Intertemporal Tradeoffs

April 18, 2022 By Jeff Fong

Georgists assert that a Land Value Tax (LVT) ensures land is always put to its most efficient use. They claim that increased carrying costs deter speculation. And if valuable land is never held out of use, society is better off. I think the story about incentives is correct. But I question … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Georgism, Henry George, LVT, taxes

Entrepreneurs and the Changing Political Economy of Housing

April 6, 2022 By Jeff Fong

Discussions about land use reform focus on policy – as they should. Overcoming NIMBYism will require deep legal, political, and regulatory reform. That said, entrepreneurs may be helping to short circuit the perverse incentives that give rise to NIMBYism in the first place. New companies may be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: California, entrepreneurship, housing crisis, tech

The Duplex: Gateway Drug to Urban Density

February 24, 2021 By Jeff Fong

duplex

After over a century, Berkeley, California may be about to legalize missing middle housing - and it’s not alone. Bids to re-legalize gradual densification in the form of duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and the like have begun to pick up steam over the last several years. In 2019, Oregon legalized … [Read more...]

Filed Under: California, Culture, housing, Policy, Uncategorized, Zoning Tagged With: missing middle

California Housing Reform: 2021 Edition

January 12, 2021 By Jeff Fong

Current events being what they are, I’m happy to be writing about something positive. Once again, we’re getting an ambitious housing reform package in the California legislature. The various bills focus on removing obstacles to new housing and are a sign of the growing momentum Yimby activists have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: California, Development, Policy, Zoning

Democratic Candidates on Housing

March 21, 2019 By Jeff Fong

Anti poverty programs have been taking center stage as the 2020 Democratic primary heats up. Proposals from Kamala Harris and Corey Booker target high housing costs for renters and make for an interesting set of ideas. These plans, however, have major shortcomings and fail to address the fundamental … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Policy Tagged With: housing

Yimbyism: The Evolution of an Idea

February 19, 2019 By Jeff Fong

Five years ago everything in California felt like a giant (land use policy) dumpster fire. Fast forward to today we live in a completely different world. Yimby activists have pushed policy, swayed elections, and dramatically shifted the overton window on California housing policy. And through this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: housing, Policy, Uncategorized Tagged With: California, housing, politics, yimby

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