[...]In this paper, after first surveying housing costs in theUnited States, we examine why the expensive places have suchhigh housing costs. High-cost places generally have either veryattractive local amenities (great weather or good schools) orstrong labor markets. The Rosen (1979) and Roback...

[...]We consider two puzzles about the local safety netand New York City. First, why do big cities, and particularlyNew York, engage in so much more redistribution thansmall towns? The broad question (the connection betweencities and redistribution) is the topic of the companionpaper to this one...

[...]What explains New York’s ongoing ability to dominateAmerica’s urban landscape? In this paper, we explore theeconomic history of the city and argue that three themesemerge. First, New York’s emergence as the nation’s premier port was not the result of happenstance followed by...