Princeton's Matthew Desmond Gets Everything Wrong About Poverty's Root Causes
Desmond's analysis never goes deeper than his facile assertion that "poverty persists because some wish and will it to."
Policy
Zoning Bans the Good Samaritan
Plus: Beverly Hills homeowners can't build new pools until their city allows new housing, a ballot initiative would legalize California's newest city, and NIMBYs sue to overturn zoning reform (again).
Will Arizona Legalize Its Tamale Black Market This Year?
A veto from Gov. Katie Hobbs killed a bill that would’ve brought the trade above ground. Now lawmakers have launched a new legalization effort.
Zoning Board Orders Longtime Tenants' Homes Dismantled
Plus: the Supreme Court weighs housing fees and homelessness, YIMBYs bet on smaller, more focused reforms, and a new paper finds legalizing more housing does in fact bring costs down.
Homeless Encampments Cost These Cities Tens of Thousands of Dollars Per Tent
L.A., Portland, and other cities are spending millions to house homeless people in outdoor "safe sleeping" sites.
On Economic Issues, the Populist Right and Left Share a Lot of Common Ground
That's bad news for Americans.
Rent Control for the Rich
Plus: Fort Collins tries passing zoning reform for the third time, Coastal California cracks down on Airbnbs, and state lawmakers try to unban rent control.
Newsom Nixes Psychedelic Decriminalization and Cannabis Cafés
Gavin Newsom supported a ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in California but rejected a social consumption measure.
Welfare Is Great—for the Welfare Bureaucrats
The clients get a confusing maze and a lot of incentives to stay on welfare.
3 Economic Myths That Need To Die
As we step into 2024, it's crucial to adopt a more informed perspective on these dubious claims.
Former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey Loves Barry Goldwater and Milton Friedman
The former governor argues that beating up on businesses "is only sharpening the knife that the left will eventually use on us."
Former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey Loves Barry Goldwater and Milton Friedman
The former governor argues that beating up on businesses "is only sharpening the knife that the left will eventually use on us."
The Best of Reason: Long Live the Conch Republic
The colorful, mostly libertarian history of Key West.
Court's Wild Zoning Decision Blocks 'Montana Miracle'
Plus: More local "missing middle" reforms pass in Maine and Virginia, Colorado court blesses crackdown on student housing, and Florida tries to escape its slow growth past.
Mickey Mouse Is Now In the Public Domain. Well, Sort Of.
Even though only one very specific version of the character is free to use, it still represents a positive step for creative expression.
Red State, Red Tape
How Florida’s legacy of slow-growth laws is holding back its post-COVID boom.
Milei Brings His Chainsaw to Argentina's Regulatory State
If passed, the new libertarian president's omnibus bill of reforms could help Argentina reverse decades of government failure.
How Florida Cut Red Tape To Fast-Track Hurricane Repairs
Bureaucracy usually mires construction projects in delays. Florida is trying to buck that norm.
12 Increasingly Off-the-Wall Housing Reforms
American cities and states passed a lot of good, incremental housing reforms in 2023. In 2024, we'd benefit from trying out some long shot ideas.
California Officials Force Elderly Couple To Dismantle Home, Citing Blocked Ocean Views
Plus: Austin's newly passed zoning reforms could be in legal jeopardy, HUD releases its latest census of the homeless population, and a little-discussed Florida reform is spurring a wave of home construction.
Thomas Massie: Why Not Vote 'No'?
Congressman Thomas Massie discusses his "no" votes on foreign aid, COVID-19 relief, and labeling anti-Zionism antisemitism on episode two of Just Asking Questions.
North Carolina Strip Club Now Safe From County's Eminent Domain Efforts
After public backlash, Hanover County Commission has decided to pursue a voluntary purchase of the Cheetah Premier Gentlemen's Club next door.
The Best of Reason: Monkey Herpes, Face Eating, and the Pork Chop Gang: The Origins of Florida Man
The growing anti-transparency atmosphere in the state might make the Florida Man extinct.
Why Is Nike Stomping On Independent Creators?
Nike should welcome the reinvention of their popular shoes.
New York's Broken Housing Court Lets Tenant Stay For Years Without Paying Rent
Plus: Austin and Salt Lake City pass very different "middle housing" reforms, Democrats in Congress want to ban hedge fund–owned rental housing, and a look at GOP presidential candidate's housing policy positions.
Is Florida Finally Fixing Its Broken Homeowners Insurance Market?
Floridians spend millions litigating insurance disputes after hurricanes. There's a better way.
North Carolina's Bad Billion-Dollar Bet on a Struggling E.V. Company
Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast has lost $5.8 billion in three years, during which time the state of North Carolina pledged $1.2 billion in state incentives.
The Villages Is America's Boomer Boomtown
The Florida master-planned retirement community spans 33 square miles and counting.
Public Pensions Threaten To Bankrupt State Governments. Florida Has an Answer.
Thanks to recent reforms, most government workers in Florida now enroll in less risky defined contribution plans.
Justice O'Connor's Parting Dissents Highlighted the Twin Perils of Local Tyranny and Federal Overreach
The late Supreme Court justice eloquently defended property rights and state autonomy.
Repeal Day Lessons for Tobacco Prohibitionists
Today’s nicotine prohibitionists may do well to take a few moments to contemplate their anti-alcohol predecessors.
San Francisco's Can-Kicking on Zoning Reform Could See It Lose All Zoning Powers
Plus: the U.S. Justice Department says zoning restrictions on a church's soup kitchen are likely illegal, more cities pass middle housing reforms, and California gears up for another rent control fight.
Give to Reason, Because We Have to Repeal Bad Laws
Your donations help us take on today's Prohibitionists.
Monkey Herpes, Face Eating, and the Pork Chop Gang: How Public Records Laws Created the Florida Man
The growing anti-transparency atmosphere in the state might make the Florida Man extinct.
Just Asking Questions: A New Reason Podcast!
Subscribe to a new show hosted by Zach Weissmueller and Liz Wolfe, airing on YouTube every Thursday and podcast feeds every Friday.
Seattle Banned Landlords From Rejecting Tenants Based on Criminal Records. Will the Supreme Court Step in?
The political push behind the law was well-meaning. But it will backfire on many prospective renters.
A Bonus Reason Roundtable Featuring Four 'Florida Men' of Our Own
Plus: The Reason webathon is happening right now. Donate so we can make more fun podcasts like this one!
Proposed L.A. Ordinance Would Require Airbnb Hosts To Get Police Permission To Operate
The regulation is part of a suite of new restrictions on hotels sought by the local hotel workers union.
Yes, Heavy Regulation Hurts the Economy. Just Look at France.
We're often told European countries are better off thanks to big-government policies. So why is the U.S. beating France in many important ways?
Controversy Over an Important Article Finding Large Negative Effects of Zoning
Economist Brian Greaney may have found serious methodological errors in a much-cited 2019 article by Enrico Moretti and Chang-Tai Hsieh.
The Best of Reason: The Endangered Species Act at 50
Why have so few species been taken off the endangered species list?
"This Case Pits Real Lawyers Against a Robot Lawyer"
"Spoiler: the robot wins for lack of Article III standing."
Elizabeth Warren Wants the Government To Investigate America's 'Sandwich Shop Monopoly'
The owner of Jimmy John's and Arby's has bought Subway, and a Massachusetts senator has concerns.
