Wendell Cox's voodoo economics

Bill Fulton takes apart the nonsensical and contradictory land-use regulation analysis of Wendell Cox.

Cox categories 11 regions with supposedly "smart growth" policies, even though there is often nothing to distinguish their policies. "And, amusingly, he finds that none of these criteria are present in any of the six "less restrictive" metros. Apparently there’s large-lot zoning in Minneapolis but not in Atlanta or Raleigh or St. Louis? He gives no indication as to how he decided this."

Cox lumps together policies that have the opposite effect, Fulton notes. "But he doesn’t differentiate among these policies; he simply asserts that they all fall into the category of restrictive regulation. Never mind, for example, that he lumps together UGBs (which encourage higher density) and large-lot zoning (which encourage lower density)."

Once you get past the faulty assumptions, the math is pretty good, Fulton notes.

"Unfortunately, Cox’s stuff is the Fox News – or MSNBC, if you prefer – of land use research. One point of view always wins out. The possibility that another point of view may have merit is simply never entertained. Instead of moving toward greater understanding about land use policy and how to use it, we are pushed deeper into our own separate world views – and further away from a useful policy debate."