Just Economics helps communities harmonize economic incentives with public policy objectives for job creation, affordable housing & sustainability.
Just Economics provides public policy and policy implementation research and advice to governmental entities, associations and interest groups with a focus on harmonizing economic incentives with public policy objectives for job creation, affordable housing, transportation efficiencies and sustainable development.
Operating as usual
An event to examine the impact of infrastructure on equity.
Hear from Replica General Counsel Kiran Jain about one of the most powerful tools public agencies can use to assess inequities in the built environment—and how Replica, a data platform for the built environment, is working with cities to create more equitable infrastructure.
While we debate infrastructure funding, it's important to ensure that infrastructure projects are necessary, well-designed and in the right place. See https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-charles-marohn-transportation-funding.html?utm_campaign=meetedgar&utm_medium=social&utm_source=meetedgar.com&fbclid=IwAR2uM6yuQAsqOKG0E5nzX8SqAqiaCYu4NoPagX5pHAtxzVsSradYWICSU2s
After advising municipalities on how to construct roads for years, Charles Marohn now believes America needs to stop building new highways. Will his new way of thinking catch on?
Folks in Detroit are waking up to the perverse incentives embedded in the traditional property tax and are coming to understand that land value return (implemented via a split-rate property tax) would enhance job creation and affordable housing there.
Detroit is only second to New York City when it comes to overall tax burden, according to some estimates. And when it comes to property taxes, due to the systems of incentives, breaks, Neighborhood Enterprise Zones and other financial tools, it’s very possible a loft downtown with a higher value c...
Has anybody ever tried to move a parcel of land from a high-tax jurisdiction to a low-tax jurisdiction?
Is it that hard to tax the rich? February 19, 2021/0 Comments/in Circular Economy, Henry George, Tax /by Matthew Downhour When the public has lost its appetite for the argument that taxing the wealthy is in some way unfair – a claim which, in the midst of a pandemic that has sharply heightened in ...
In 2010, believing that "ethical economics" should not be seen as an oxymoron, I started Just Economics LLC to help communities harmonize economic incentives with public policy objectives for job creation, affordable housing, transportation efficiency and sustainable development.
Over the past month, with the help of a web designer, I overhauled my website to create a more contemporary design that would be more helpful for prospective clients. You can find it at https://justeconomicsllc.com/ . Can you take a look and give me some feedback?
With more than 35 years of experience, Just Economics helps communities harmonize economic incentives with public policy objectives to:
An excellent article from Michael Lewyn. As noted, many people believe that new construction inflates neighborhood housing prices. The causality is probably the reverse. In other words, higher land prices in a neighborhood motivate new construction. But land prices are invisible to people walking around a neighborhood. New construction is very visible. So, it's easy to get the causality reversed.
Michael notes that even if increased supply reduces housing prices, this will not help low-income individuals and families. For example, what if the market rate for homes drops from $2,000/month to $1,700? At first glance, it might seem irrelevant to somebody who can only afford a home at $800/month. But, many communities subsidize housing costs based on the difference between what residents can afford and market price. Because of limited funds, communities rarely subsidize everybody who needs it. If the market price drops, communities can subsidize more families with the same funding. So, from this perspective, any drop in the market price of housing does help those who are poor.
The events of the past year shows that the law of supply and demand applies to urban housing, and that gentrification can, in fact, be subdued.
Anti-Displacement v Abundant Housing
Alan Durning is a very insightful fellow. I'll be sharing two of his articles about affordable housing and displacement. There first can be found here at https://www.sightline.org/2020/08/03/five-steps-to-prevent-displacement/
Protect tenants. Upzone for reparations. And 3 more steps for communities to build abundant housing, invest in affordability, and avoid displacement.
In the 1990s, when I was working for the Honorable Hilda Mason on the Council of the District of Columbia, I drafted the "Clean Air Compliance Fee Act of 1994" that was enacted by the Council but later repealed by Congress in 1997 due to its ability to override local legislation. This article, about proposed parking fees in Hartford, is a source of important information about how subsidies for parking are ruining our environment and the economic vitality of our communities. If you are interested in the Clean Air Compliance Fee Act, you can see a copy at https://code.dccouncil.us/dc/council/laws/docs/10-242.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1QU2L4wghXa02iOQjH_Gt4rlyt7kUw_vkFuN0EY7ENCxSceF1dhDdE1aI .
Hartford Connecticut considers a pioneering move to make parking pay its way A higher parking tax works much like a “lite” version of land value taxation (LVT) Surface parking lots are …
As usual, Todd Litman is on point when he notes that most of us abhor homelessness for people. Yet we tolerate it. On the other hand, we legally prohibit homelessness for cars. Zoning and other development regulations mandate multiple homes for cars -- at home, at work, at the shopping center, schools, etc. And Mr. Litman offers proven techniques for balancing parking needs with needs for affordable housing and economic development.
Underutilized parking lots are a costly waste. By managing parking more efficiently, cities can free up land to house people rather than cars.
Inside/Outside - Housing and Land Value in Santa Monica - Santa Monica Daily Press
Santa Monica News
ECONOMIC RECOVERY – WITHOUT NEW SPENDING OR REVENUE LOSSES
Does Your Community Need to Induce Economic Recovery Without:
· New Spending?
· New Subsidies or Revenue Losses?
If “Yes,” then this course is for you!
Today, perverse economic Incentives:
· Reduce Job Growth
· Impede Business Efficiency and Profitability
· Inflate Housing Prices
Learn to Harmonize Economic Incentives with Policy Objectives for
· Job Growth
· Affordable Housing
· Compact, Sustainable Development
· Local Government Efficiency & Solvency
On January 12, 2021, the George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science is offering a one-day course about how different infrastructure funding mechanisms can impact long-term infrastructure sustainability, efficiency and equity. For more information and registration, see https://eemi.seas.gwu.edu/prosperity-sustainability-equity
NOTE: The course will be recorded. If you register, you will have access to the course when it's convenient for you.
#economicrecovery #economicdevelopment #sustainabledevelopment #localgovernment #sustainability #climatechange #affordablehousing #urbanplanning #infrastructure #housing #transit #jobcreation #equity #ethicaleconomics #environment
More jobs and more affordable housing are top social goals. There is also a desire to remedy traffic congestion, environmental damage and the budget strain associated with wasteful and expensive infrastructure duplication associated with urban sprawl. This short course examines solutions to common e...
PROSPERITY, SUSTAINABILITY & EQUITY
I'm teaching a one-day course on January 12th, sponsored by George Washington University, on how state and local governments can promote prosperity, sustainability and equity. For course details, see https://eemi.seas.gwu.edu/prosperity-sustainability-equity .
More jobs and more affordable housing are top social goals. There is also a desire to remedy traffic congestion, environmental damage and the budget strain associated with wasteful and expensive infrastructure duplication associated with urban sprawl. This short course examines solutions to common e...
Chuck Marohn and Joe Minicozzi deserve praise for unlocking this wisdom about healthy cities and towns. Today, cities and towns are characterized in the center by surface parking lots and vacant or under-utilized buildings while big box malls sprout on the fringes where crops should be sprouting instead. We are wasting our town centers and despoiling the countryside. If we want to preserve rural areas for agriculture, conservation and recreation, we need to cure our cities.
But, if "smart growth" is so smart, why is there so much "dumb growth?" Are we stupid? No we're not. But there are powerful economic incentives that encourage sprawl. Fortunately, communities are coming up with remedies to harmonize economic incentives with public policy objectives for job creation, affordable housing and sustainable development. Of the many remedies being employed, some of the most important include:
* Performance-based parking pricing;
* Distance- and congestion-based roadway fees;
* Land value return and recycling; and
* Zoning reform.
Let's not simply be angry or sad about the environmental damage and expensive infrastructure costs associated with sprawl. Let's roll up our sleeves and implement reforms that have proven effective in preserving the environment, creating jobs, reducing housing costs and reducing infrastructure requirements (allowing for lower taxes)!
To have enduring prosperity, a community cannot squander its land; it must develop in ways that are financially productive.
Episode #17 — Sustainable and Just Economic Development
Rick Rybeck, attorney and director of Just Economics LLC
In this episode, Jennifer Cantero and Rick Rybeck explore how private money can actually help the community and infrastructure. Rybeck shares some enlightening stories of how private and public money benefitted each other and the community. November is approaching, and Rick’s insights will come in handy when you’re looking over your local ballots.
https://ssfllp.com/rebooting-capitalism-podcast/
What You Will Learn:
What user fees and access fees are and their benefits.
Why “just economics” isn’t an oxymoron.
Why HOW we pay for things is just as important as HOW MUCH we pay.
Why urban sprawl is bad for our pocketbooks.
How Pennsylvania maintained affordable housing by reorienting their property taxes.
Rebooting Capitalism is a podcast that digs into why traditional capitalism is broken and what people are doing to fix it. We hope our guests and topics will inform and inspire others to use business as a force for good.
A well-written article about enhancing job creation and affordable housing in cities.
This image shows a mostly undeveloped parking lot, occupying a full block of prime real estate in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. Why does this lot remain underdeveloped? The owner of the land c…
Some of the complexities involved in current "Takings" jurisprudence.
This presentation: Pre-Koontz context Facts of Koontz Supreme Court rulings Critique of Koontz rulings
POLICE REFORM - FUNDING & STRUCTURE
Some people are aghast at the slogans "Defund the police." or "Abolish the police." These slogans fail to convey the core idea which is that the police are often called to deal with issues of related to mental health or interpersonal relationships. Mental health workers and social workers are better-equipped to deal with these issues, and the notion is to transfer funding from police to other services that are better trained and equipped to deal effectively and safely with the problems.
The article below notes how much time police spend dealing with traffic enforcement and responding to crashes. Reducing sprawl could reduce the need for police to handle these situations, freeing up time and resources to deal with crime.
Labor and Green parties in Europe have been calling for a tax reform whereby taxes on privately-created building values would be reduced and taxes on publicly-created land values would increase. Now the conservatives are joining in. Perhaps we could find this policy option as a first step toward reconciling left and the right.
https://ycnetwork.uk/perspective/the-case-for-a-land-value-tax-tom-spencer/?fbclid=IwAR05afyBglfehy8v-4Mw-OxcLtrkqmy5Dg9eoMdVCd6JYxZ7TwclrbTYjB4
LVT must be a high priority for the next budget, writes Tom
ECONOMIC RECOVERY & COMMUNITY SOLVENCY
Are you interested in:
* How can communities perform better economically?
* How can communities create more jobs without having the price of housing go through the roof?
* How can communities reduce sprawl to protect the environment, reduce pollution and reduce infrastructure costs?
* How can communities obtain revenue for necessary services without wrecking their economic vitality?
* How can communities become more equitable?
* Is "ethical economics" an oxymoron?
These topics, and more, will be covered in 5 online classes, every Thursday evening beginning on May 21st. To register, see https://www.hgsss.org/land-value-return-and-recycling-for-prosperity-sustainability-and-equity/ .
ENGINEERING RECOVERY FOR PROSPERITY, SUSTAINABILITY & EQUITY
Some communities face disaster and collapse or disappear. Others face disaster and recover.
PARKING BENEFITS GENERALIZED TO OTHER MODES
In many companies, some (or all) employees are offered free parking. But employees who use other transportation modes receive no benefit.
The Council of the District of Columbia recently enacted the Transportation Benefits Equity Act, a bill that requires employers who offer a parking benefit to offer comparable benefits to employees to use other transportation modes to get to work. This is important both in terms of equity and in terms of reducing traffic congestion caused by financial incentives that encourage excessive use of single-occupant vehicles.
The Coalition for Smarter Growth and other transportation advocates deserve the credit for making this happen. A summary of the legislation (and a link to the legislation itself) can be found on their website at https://www.smartergrowth.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ParkingCashOut_DC_Bill-23-148-factsheet-version-4.pdf?emci=d83d109d-0679-ea11-a94c-00155d03b1e8&emdi=cd16ba1c-9d79-ea11-a94c-00155d03b1e8&ceid=126754 .
During normal times, being a bus driver is one of the toughest jobs in any city. The driver must keep a schedule, collect fares, be a tour guide and care for the safety of people on and around his bus while others drive crazy all around.
Now, with Covid-19, bus drivers, maintenance workers and others are exposed to potentially deadly viruses. I salute the transit workers of America for performing above and beyond the call of duty.
On March 3rd, at the Louisiana Transportation Conference, I'll be talking about land value return and recycling (LVRR) as a way to fund infrastructure projects while simultaneously integrating these facilities with more compact and efficient land use patterns. LVRR can also help create jobs and make housing more affordable. Afterwards, I'll spend a few days in New Orleans. If anybody would like to meet with me to discuss LVRR in Baton Rouge (March 3 or 4) or in New Orleans (March 5 - 9), please let me know.
1669 Columbia Rd NW, Ste 116
Washington D.C., DC
20009
42 Bus stops here. S2, S4 stops are 1 block away. DC Circulator Bus stops on Columbia Rd at 15th St & at Ontario Rd, NW. Columbia Heights Metro Stop (Green Line) is a 10-minute walk.
| Monday | 9am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |
Urban Policy Research & Advice
Legislative and Regulatory Analysis
Legislative and Regulatory Drafting
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A brief (3-minute) presentation to the Center for State Innovation about smart growth and dumb growth. "Value capture" is discussed as a technique for funding infrastructure and creating jobs while making housing more affordable and development more sustainable.
Embajada de Cuba en Estados Unidos
2630 16th St NWEmbajada del Ecuador en los Estados Unidos
2535 15th St NW, Washington, DCCDA Council for Professional Recognition
2460 16th St NWCARECEN-Central American Resource Center
1460 Columbia Road NW, Suite C-1Housing Counseling Services, Inc.
2410 17th St NW, Ste 100Edo Citizens in Diaspora Worldwide
Join The GroupDC Public Charter School Board
3333 14th St NW, Ste 210Embassy of Angola in Washington, D.C.
20009-6501
Transatlantic Outreach Program
1377 R Street NW
DC Mayor's Office on Asian and Pacific Island
441 4th St NW, Ste 721N
AFT - American Federation of Teachers
555 New Jersey Ave NW