Economics

Baltimore’s Harborplace: Elegy to a Dead Mall

Lessons from a one-time crown jewel of urban renewal. Recently I got to be a tourist in my hometown. The hard part about going back...
The Capitol building in Olympia is marble colored and include pillars and a dome in the classic style.

Lessons from Washington State’s New Capital Gains Tax

Taxing the rich works like a charm. Last week we learned that the capital gains tax — which was passed by the state legislature in...

Want to Revitalize Downtown? Here’s Eight Ways How

In the spring of 2020, downtown Seattle sat empty. A once bustling and growing core of tower cranes, thriving businesses, and active neighborhoods was...
Two streetcars pass on Jackson Street with the downtown skyline in the background.

Streetcar Project Could Kickstart Downtown Recovery

The Downtown Seattle Association and new SDOT head are seeking ways to jumpstart the shelved Center City Streetcar project, such as a Cultural Connector...
An high-speed train pulls into a station and passengers approach. (Photo courtesy Midwest High Speed Rail Association)

High-Speed Rail Benefits Small Towns and Large Cities

There are many ways a high-speed rail system can benefit the urban hubs of a megaregion, but small towns along the alignment can also...
Credit: Doug Trumm

The Case for Rent Control

If you've taken introductory economics, you've likely heard some bad things about rent control. Most economists (e.g., 81%) don't like it. Generally, economists argue...
A pergola shelters a street cafe on Ballard Avenue, with a person biking by in the street.

Policy Lab: Why Are Seattle Restaurants So Expensive?

Seattle service workers are set to get a major wage hike, unless restaurant lobbyists get their way. But policymakers can support the restaurant industry in better ways than simply cutting worker pay.
A map of Washington State with a map of the country of Switzerland overlaid on top of it.

Workers Need Homes, So Why Isn’t Our Zoning Keeping Up With Job Growth?

When Bellevue boasted they would eat Seattle’s lunch last month, I am not sure they realized the housing crisis was on the full course...