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.
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due to artificial scarcity created by zoning laws, minimum lot sizes, height restrictions, parking mandates, and outdated local codes.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."
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