E124: Why Government Rules Make Homes Unaffordable - w/ Bryan Caplan

from El Podcast · host Bryan Caplan, El Podcast Media, El Podcast, Jesse Wright

Economist Bryan Caplan joins the show to discuss his new graphic novel Build Baby Build: The Science and Ethics of Housing Regulation. We unpack how housing prices have skyrocketed due to artificial scarcity created by zoning laws, minimum lot sizes, height restrictions, parking mandates, and outdated local codes.Caplan argues that cutting these burdensome rules could massively increase supply, slash housing costs, reduce inequality, and improve economic mobility—all without sacrificing safety or quality of life. Along the way, we discuss the Empire State Building, million-dollar trailer parks, licensing bottlenecks in the trades, and why even small towns have become "Ponzi schemes of sprawl."Topics Covered:Why housing is so expensive—and who’s to blameThe 1926 Village of Euclid case and the birth of zoningHow regulation strangles supply and drives up pricesYIMBYism vs. NIMBYismTexas vs. California housing policyInfrastructure and the cost of sprawlLicensing and labor bottlenecks in constructionHow deregulation could boost GDP, mobility, and fertilityThe politics of fear and the myth of “smart growth”📺Watch full episode on YouTube➡️https://youtu.be/M-97wVYKFXo 🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us. Thanks for listening!

What this episode covers

In this episode, I sit down with economist Bryan Caplan to discuss his latest graphic novel, Build Baby Build: The Science and Ethics of Housing Regulation. Caplan argues that sky-high housing costs across the U.S. are driven by artificial scarcity created by government overregulation. We dive into the history of zoning laws, how cities have become strangled by bureaucracy, and why housing is more expensive than ever—despite advancements in construction technology.

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E124: Why Government Rules Make Homes Unaffordable - w/ Bryan Caplan

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This episode is 49 minutes long.

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This episode was published on March 8, 2025.

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