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studonovan.bsky.social
Economist researching cities, transport, housing, & energy. I focus on New Zealand & Australia, with European dalliances. And some chaff.
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🚨 urban economics research siren 🚨 In this recently published (open access) paper in "Land Use Policy", my co-author (Matthew Maltman) and I review critiques of the economic evidence on the effects of upzoning in Auckland. We find these critiques have little to no merit. doi.org/10.1016/j.la...

submitted 16 days ago • 1 comment

Hi fwiends, I'm pleased to be contributing to a discussion on housing and infrastructure policy that is being organised by the Law and Economics of New Zealand and hosted by KPMG Wellington on 13 February. Deets and register (in person or online) here: eventbrite.co.nz/e/pipe-dream...

submitted 36 days ago • 0 comments

"Before [racial zoning] was overturned by a court, Atlanta had an explicitly racist zoning code ... To comply with the court ruling, 'R-1 White Districts' became 'Dwelling House Districts' ... and 'R-2 Colored Districts' became Apartment House districts." www.atlcitydesign.com/blog/2021/1/...

submitted 37 days ago • 1 comment

🚨urban economics research siren 🚨 A new (open access) paper considers the effects of upzonings in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. tldr - housing permits ⬆️ by ~10-18% - rents ⬇️by ~21% vs counterfactual These effects are for the metropolitan region. sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

submitted 40 days ago • 3 comments

One of my final fun projects as a consultant in Australia was to contribute to a project that sought to incorporate the benefits of bus priority into a macroscopic ("strategic", or four step) transport model. You can read more about the process here. veitchlister.com/bus-priority...

submitted 42 days ago • 1 comment

Does housing affordability and security affects fertility? According to this study the answer is "yes": When people aged 20-25 years are given social housing (via lottery), then they are 32% more likely to have a child and end up having 33% more children in total. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

submitted 53 days ago • 0 comments

Kia ora from Island Bay, Wellington, New Zealand, where the clouds are doing something a little special.

submitted 57 days ago • 2 comments

"Impacts on the value of adjoining properties are not a matter for consideration under the planning scheme ... The development contributes to Brisbane's housing in that it is diverse in type and form, offering choice to different household types and income levels ..." www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...

submitted 58 days ago • 5 comments

Pleased to confirm that we have absolutely, positively arrived in Wellington, New Zealand. And it was "on a good day", as they say. In a few weeks, I'll get busy trying to help make this place into a shining city on a hill. But for now, bring on the summer holidays.

submitted 62 days ago • 5 comments

Concentrating ~all of your city’s new less-expensive housing on polluted and dangerous main streets while reserving the quiet side streets exclusively for people wealthy enough to afford single family homes, which are the most expensive and luxurious type of housing, is profoundly classist.

submitted 69 days ago • 3 comments

A single sentence, that if embraced by urbanists, mayors, city councillors & the dude who works in finance but is convinced he intuitively knows how to design a street, would greatly improve cities. This sentence would also make community engagement sessions far more productive.

submitted 70 days ago • 10 comments

1. Developer files a DA to build some units. 2. City of Sydney says they’re too tall, ‘uncharacteristic’. 3. Developer reduces number of units, reaches agreement with City of Sydney. 4. Land and Environment Court rejects application because there’s not enough units. www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...

submitted 70 days ago • 1 comment

The Point Chev to Westmere Cycleway is open and safer summer rides to the beach are on! 🚲 🌳 🏊‍♂️

submitted 70 days ago • 5 comments

I really don't think it's a good idea for local councils to impose their own noise standards. This should be something that is set / managed nationally via building codes.

submitted 70 days ago • 2 comments

🚨urban economics research siren🚨 This new paper analyses the effects of upzoning in Auckland by first specifying and second estimating an urban economic model. The results imply upzoning led to: - a 24% increase in floorspace; and - a 15 to 27% fall in house prices. Paper here: t.co/VhlUfIgsTD

submitted 70 days ago • 6 comments

Over on LinkedIn, I've fired shots at some erroneous economic reasoning on the effects of planning regulations. This sounds nerdy, and it is, but it's also important because we need to understand when and how our planning policies can do harm. www.linkedin.com/posts/stuart...

submitted 81 days ago • 0 comments

Montana's winning housing reform strategy… Make it easier to build here... to protect there.

submitted 82 days ago • 4 comments

I did some field research awhile back to see how the Dutch do bike lanes in industrial areas and—folks—they're better than the shit we have in the city.

submitted 83 days ago • 7 comments

Paris definitely wasn’t always this way. This is very recent. It wasn’t magic. It just took vision and leadership. Your city could choose leadership too. Great pic via @JBPssx

submitted 82 days ago • 32 comments