Event Outline 

Can upzoning improve housing affordability, and how should we capture the windfall gains it creates? The seminars in this workshop explore the contested economics of zoning and housing supply, emerging evidence from upzoning in Auckland, and how a system of charging for development rights could redirect the benefits of rezoning towards those most in need of housing.

1. Zoning and housing supply: empirics in search of a theory (Tim Helm)

Many empirical studies show that zoning policies can change urban outcomes such as the location and density of new housing. Some also suggest a link between zoning and the rate of housing construction. What can explain this outcome? What does economic theory actually say about the relationship between upzoning and new housing supply? This seminar steps through existing theories of regulation and housing supply in order to help interpret the empirical record, and outlines open questions in the search for a coherent theory of supply.

2. Upzoning Auckland: a critical review of the evidence (Cameron Murray)

There is a growing belief that upzoning under the 2016 Auckland Unitary Plan not only reshaped urban form but also accelerated the supply of new housing, improving housing affordability in Auckland. This seminar critically examines the methods and conclusions of recent studies regarding the impact of the AUP on house prices, construction activity, and rents.

3. Value capture for affordable housing: Why and how the states should charge for development rights (Henry Williams)

Large-scale rezoning is one of many levers Australian governments are pulling to improve housing affordability. But by freely granting development rights, governments are giving away billions in handouts to the wealthy that could instead be used to improve affordability for the housing ‘have-nots’. Our work estimates how much this is costing taxpayers, and shows how states could adapt the ACT pricing model to fund a package of support for those in need by way of more social housing, first home buyer support, and stamp duty cuts.

Presenters 

	Dr Tim Helm is a freelance economic consultant and the Director of Research and Policy at think tank Prosper Australia. Tim holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne focusing on the economics of land tax, and has previously worked at the Victorian Treasury and consultancy EY.
	Dr Cameron Murray is Australia's leading expert commentator on housing economics, and is author of The Great Housing Hijack and co-author of Rigged. Cameron is a researcher, consultant and columnist at independent think tank Fresh Economic Thinking.
	Henry Williams is Director of Policy at newly-established think tank the Policy Institute. Henry is a former Senior Economic Advisor to Tim Pallas and Senior Economist at the Productivity Commission.

Doors open at 4pm, presentations from 4:30pm - 6:00pm.

Host Sponsor

Terms & Conditions