Spotlight
Issue 15
Deterrence alone might not stop crime. But, as the campaign against drunk driving shows, it could help create the norms that do.
Read more →
Why prediction markets aren’t popular
Prediction markets are legal, contrary to popular belief. But they remain unpopular, because they lack key features that make markets attractive.
New York’s long road to congestion pricing
It has taken almost 60 years to bring traffic congestion pricing to New York. This is the story of how politicians and advocates built the coalition it needed to finally happen.
The beauty of concrete
Why are buildings today simple and austere, while buildings of the past were ornate and elaborately ornamented? The answer is not the cost of labor.
Getting materials out of the lab
Inventing new materials is only the first step. Getting them into mass production and use is just as hard.
Britain’s forgotten financial crisis
Britain had its fastest ever house price growth not in the 2020s but in the 1970s. Houses then were also getting smaller and worse. The problem was a lack of supply.
Gentrification as a housing problem
Gentrification can be a real problem for people it pushes out. But the root cause is inflexible housing supply, and solutions that don’t tackle that can make the problem worse.