By: Chloe Kauffman CollegeTown is a popular, high-traffic neighborhood for college students in the Tallahassee area, with its growth spurred by a greater demand for students to live closer to the main campuses of Florida State University and Florida A&M University. CollegeTown is a revitalized warehouse district. Located next to a major railroad corridor, merchants would … Continue reading Building Up or Out? The Paradox of a Maximum Height Ordinance in Tallahassee’s CollegeTown
The Lack of Nuisance Laws in South Florida Sugarcane Farming
By: Mae Baltz In 2021, the United States produced over 33 million tons of sugarcane, with a majority of the crop harvested in the fields of Belle Glade, Florida. The city has a median household income of $28,028, with the sugar industry as one of its largest employers. As such, many of the Glade’s citizens … Continue reading The Lack of Nuisance Laws in South Florida Sugarcane Farming
![[Stern-Wheeler Arriving at Silver Springs, Florida, after an Overnight Run up the St. Johns, Oklawaha, & Silver Rivers]](https://i0.wp.com/devoelmoorecenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/DT1649.jpg?fit=1080%2C879&ssl=1)
Protecting North Florida’s Springs
By Jad Kabbani North Florida's springs are highly valued environmental resources, known for their water quality and recreational appeal. The region, along with Central Florida, is home to the densest concentration of freshwater springs in the world. Consequentially, North Florida's economy heavily depends on this abundant natural resource as visitors and locals take advantage of … Continue reading Protecting North Florida’s Springs
Smart Cities: A Data-Driven Tool to Solve Urban Challenges
By Corrine Bresky With the rise in global urbanization comes new opportunities to transform city functioning in response to population shifts. In 2020, approximately 56.2% of the world’s population resided in urban areas. This number is expected to continue to grow, with projections for 2050 showing an additional 12% of the world in these areas. … Continue reading Smart Cities: A Data-Driven Tool to Solve Urban Challenges
A Close Look at Pedestrian Traffic in the Gaines Street Corridor
By Samantha Murray Tallahassee’s CollegeTown area may be one of the most vibrant places in the city with its popular restaurants and rising art scene. Yet, its road infrastructure has not kept pace with development. In order to sustainably support potential economic growth, future urban development should prioritize increasing walkability in the CollegeTown urban space. … Continue reading A Close Look at Pedestrian Traffic in the Gaines Street Corridor
The Appeal of CollegeTown’s Amenities Over The Years
By Ava Jowers What was once several city blocks of warehouses and empty lots is now one of the most popular destinations for college students and young professionals in Tallahassee. The story of how this older section of the city transitioned into a premier urban location is complex but instructive for understanding contemporary urban redevelopment. … Continue reading The Appeal of CollegeTown’s Amenities Over The Years
Expanded Voucher Programs May Lead to Greater Neighborhood Diversity
By Danielle Waidley Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation (H.B. 7045) greatly expanding Florida’s already pioneering school choice programs at the end of the state legislature’s 2021 session. This expansion will likely be a boon for parents and children looking for alternatives to conventional public schools. But more attention should be given to another unintended … Continue reading Expanded Voucher Programs May Lead to Greater Neighborhood Diversity
DMC Researchers Presenting at FSU’s Undergraduate Research Symposium: April 1, 2021
Our public policy researchers are working tirelessly this semester -- and Florida State University is recognizing their success. In a record-breaking year, FIVE DMC researchers will be presenting at FSU's annual Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS). The symposium will run virtually from 12:00PM to 4:00PM on April 1st, 2021. You can register to attend the event, … Continue reading DMC Researchers Presenting at FSU’s Undergraduate Research Symposium: April 1, 2021
Our Public Policy Researchers Presenting at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC): Abstracts
Not even a month into the new year and our DMC researchers are already scheduled to present their work! Three undergraduate researchers have been selected to present at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC) at the end of February. This conference was created by the Florida Undergraduate Research Association (FURA) and has a state-wide reputation … Continue reading Our Public Policy Researchers Presenting at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC): Abstracts
Interview with Dr. Keith Ihlanfeldt
Introduction & interview by Matthew Wykoff My name is Matthew Wykoff and I am a senior at FSU finishing my undergraduate degree in Economics. As a DMC researcher interested in Tallahassee’s local urban development, I interviewed Dr. Keith Ihlanfeldt about his recent paper, Impact of Rental Housing on Neighborhood Integration. Dr. Ihlanfeldt’s official title is … Continue reading Interview with Dr. Keith Ihlanfeldt
George Floyd and the Future of Police Misconduct
By: Dr. Samuel R. Staley This piece first appeared in The Beacon. The death of George Floyd at the hands of a cop with a history of excessive force complaints has spurred protests, demonstrations, and riots across the nation. Unfortunately, the violence some protesters have unleashed on these cities is likely to exacerbate existing cultural … Continue reading George Floyd and the Future of Police Misconduct
BetterWorldBooks Promotes Literacy Through Enterprise
By Gianni Vasquez BetterWorldBooks, a self-sustaining, triple-bottom-line company promotes and advocates for literacy around the world. Their online book-selling platform enables consumers to be participants in the company’s Book for Book™ initiative which was launched in 2011. Via this program, purchases made on the company’s site have supported the distribution of 28 million books to … Continue reading BetterWorldBooks Promotes Literacy Through Enterprise
Infrastructure critical to urban redevelopment
By Donald Sizemore College Town currently serves as the epicenter of Florida State University’s social life in Tallahassee. Yet, this vibrant mixed-use commercial and residential area--skirting the southern border of FSU, three blocks from Florida A&M University, and just a quarter mile from FSU’s football stadium--did not exist in 2010. Instead, the area was a … Continue reading Infrastructure critical to urban redevelopment
Time to Revisit Private History of Mass Transit
By Giovanna Da Silva Tallahassee’s public bus transportation system, Starmetro, has been the subject of criticism among community members who use the buses. With a 3.0 star rating (out of five) on Google reviews, many complain about the poor quality of service, lack of cleanliness, tardiness, and limited bus routes and times. Complaints about public … Continue reading Time to Revisit Private History of Mass Transit
Is Open Enrollment Effective Market-Based Education Reform?
By Andrea Medici Since the 1950s school choice has been implemented in many forms to support the education system in the United States. Open enrollment is one such approach that requires school districts to enroll students who reside in other districts. This is a particularly pertinent subject to Florida as the 2017-18 school year marked … Continue reading Is Open Enrollment Effective Market-Based Education Reform?
Raising the Gas Tax Will Not Help Finance Public Infrastructure
By Giovanna da Silva As a part of his plan to revamp US public infrastructure, President Donald Trump recently suggested increasing the gasoline tax to 25 cents a gallon from the current rate of 18.4 cents per gallon to help fund his $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan. This isn’t a new idea, however, as proposals for … Continue reading Raising the Gas Tax Will Not Help Finance Public Infrastructure
Is the Gas Tax a Sustainable Revenue Source for Roads?
By Giovanna da Silva Millions of Americans depend on roads in their everyday lives. US roads handle 8 billion miles of traffic per day. For most of America’s contemporary history, federal, state, and local governments have maintained and funded roads. Currently, there are 4 million miles of public road in the country. Gas taxes and … Continue reading Is the Gas Tax a Sustainable Revenue Source for Roads?
Private Sector Can Shoulder Some of the Risk for New Road Construction
By Giovanna da Silva The 21st century has seen a substantial increase in public-private partnerships in the United States and around the world. The basic principle behind public-private partnerships, or P3s, is that government works with the private sector in order to build and finance public works projects. P3s have been increasingly encouraged by state … Continue reading Private Sector Can Shoulder Some of the Risk for New Road Construction
Regulation of Ride Sharing Services Unnecessary Based on Evidence
By Justin Langford The emergence of ridesharing has revolutionized the transportation industry. By providing an online interface to connect passengers to drivers nearby, Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft offer an inexpensive and convenient alternative to traditional taxi services. The rise of TNCs, however, has brought about criticism among legislators and attempts … Continue reading Regulation of Ride Sharing Services Unnecessary Based on Evidence
Gentrification in Frenchtown: A Nuanced Perspective
By Jordan Greer Gentrification has been contentious since British sociologist Ruth Rich coined the word in the 1960s. Rich used the term to describe the process of wealthy citizens, landlords, and developers moving into British working class neighborhoods and renovating the area. This process of redevelopment, she argued, drove up the costs of housing and … Continue reading Gentrification in Frenchtown: A Nuanced Perspective
Why the U.S. Should Adopt the Nordic Approach to Private Roads
By Giovanna da Silva Many view the United States as a free market capitalist state and Nordic countries such as Sweden and Finland as socialist due to their extensive welfare system. Yet, in the United States, most roads, highways, and other transportation infrastructure are publicly owned and operated. Meanwhile, the vast majority of roads in … Continue reading Why the U.S. Should Adopt the Nordic Approach to Private Roads
Private Toll Roads: A Case Study of Tallahassee’s Orchard Pond Parkway
By Giovanna da Silva Florida boasts the highest number of toll roads in the country. Until last April, state and local governments owned and operated all of Florida toll roads. Tallahassee’s Orchard Pond Parkway challenged this precedent, however, opening to the general public in 2017 and becoming the first privately constructed and operated toll road … Continue reading Private Toll Roads: A Case Study of Tallahassee’s Orchard Pond Parkway
Middle Eastern Entrepreneurs Face Regulatory Hurdles
By Kristen Carpenter and Giovanna da Silva Entrepreneurship often serves as a means to achieve social change. In the Middle East, social enterprises such as Glowork foster advancement by providing the disenfranchised with empowerment and professional development opportunities. Many entrepreneurs and employment seekers in the area, however, face regulatory hurdles to starting their own business. … Continue reading Middle Eastern Entrepreneurs Face Regulatory Hurdles
Bethel Church Vital to Frenchtown Community Redevelopment
By N'namdi Green Today, faith-based organizations continue to influence communities beyond the religious realm. Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of Tallahassee is a prime example of a faith-based organization inserting itself into non-conventional fields. Bethel has been at the forefront of economic development within the Frenchtown community in Tallahassee for almost 30 years. This includes past … Continue reading Bethel Church Vital to Frenchtown Community Redevelopment
A Brief History of Frenchtown
By Jordan Greer With Frenchtown development becoming one of the spotlight issues in the city of Tallahassee's future economic redevelopment plans, a look at the social and economic context for this marginalized area of the city might be useful. On July 4th 1825, the federal government granted $200,000 worth of northern Florida territory to Marquis … Continue reading A Brief History of Frenchtown
Bethel Church: Visions of a Frenchtown Renaissance
N'namdi Green Since its official inception in 1870, Bethel Missionary Church has been a staple within the greater downtown area of Tallahassee. Throughout the years, Bethel Church has created and maintained a strong presence in the Frenchtown area by serving not only as a religious hub, but also as an epicenter for social engagement within … Continue reading Bethel Church: Visions of a Frenchtown Renaissance
After this Hurricane Season, We Need to Rethink Flood Insurance
Giovanna Dasilva With the national spotlight on flooding caused by hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has come under scrutiny. The federal program primarily focuses on offering flood insurance coverage and reducing the impact of flood damage. The NFIP was established in 1968 to counteract a market failure on the … Continue reading After this Hurricane Season, We Need to Rethink Flood Insurance
Government Consolidation Rarely Lives Up to Promises
By Matt Kelly Government consolidation is an often-touted solution to economic and social problems in American cities. Several initiatives to combine local governments have resulted in conjoined regional governments, including Indianapolis-Marion County (IN), Athens-Clarke County (GA), and Jacksonville-Duval County (FL). Tallahassee and Leon County have seen six campaigns for consolidation over 50 years, all of … Continue reading Government Consolidation Rarely Lives Up to Promises
Some Regulations Hinder Storm Recovery
By Chad Thomas and Matt Kelly One common policy response to hurricanes is to strengthen building codes. Former FEMA chairman Craig Fugate blames inadequate state and local building codes, rather than inept federal government disaster relief efforts, for the woeful response to Hurricane Katrina. After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, building code enforcement was enhanced in … Continue reading Some Regulations Hinder Storm Recovery
Economic Freedom Key to Cities’ Success
By Matt Kelly Economic freedom is the unrestricted ability of people in a country to associate and transact with one another. Measuring economic freedom has become a growing area of academic research. Probably the best known measure is the index constructed for the “Economic Freedom of the World” annual report on 159 countries published by … Continue reading Economic Freedom Key to Cities’ Success
Tallahassee’s Local Permitting Process Reviewed
By Benjamin Peterson, Colin Cook, and Scott Williams One of the core issues of the DeVoe Moore Center (DMC) is regulatory streamlining and reform. Previous reports on local permitting have considered particular development types, including shopping centers and telecommunications towers. The DMC’s Data Analytics Group continues to examine the permitting process and most recently began … Continue reading Tallahassee’s Local Permitting Process Reviewed
Regulators Adapt to the Sharing Economy
By Matt Kelly The so-called “sharing economy” has revolutionized the way people travel, lodge, eat, and work through companies such as Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, and OpenTable. Buyers and sellers are increasingly transacting on online platforms that use a mix of demand pricing, reputation mechanisms, and computer algorithms to match users. This innovation represents a dramatic challenge … Continue reading Regulators Adapt to the Sharing Economy
Study Finds Growth Management Laws Reduce Housing Affordability
by Matt Kelly A new study by Cato Institute Senior Fellow Randal O’Toole explores the history and effects of growth management in the United States. Growth-management laws, according to O’Toole, “restrict rural development in order to force most growth into the cities.” In “The New Feudalism: Why States Must Repeal Growth-Management Laws” O’Toole finds these … Continue reading Study Finds Growth Management Laws Reduce Housing Affordability
New Study Examines Spillover Effects of Real Estate Owned Properties
Since the housing market collapse, banks have repossessed large numbers of homes. These REO or real estate owned properties are often vacant and rundown and can lower the values of nearby residences. While research confirms this spillover effect of REOs on other properties, few studies have evaluated its relative magnitude in different neighborhoods. DeVoe Moore … Continue reading New Study Examines Spillover Effects of Real Estate Owned Properties
Tourism Vital to Florida’s Economy
By Erick Winterkamp Florida is known around the world for its white sandy beaches, diverse wildlife and theme parks. These environmental and manmade attractions make it a hotspot for domestic and international tourism. State and local taxes and spending have impacted the tourism industry, but Florida would likely be a tourism destination with or without … Continue reading Tourism Vital to Florida’s Economy
Tax Increment Financing Has Unclear Effects
By Casey Barr Originally used in California in 1952, TIF is the most widely utilized type of economic development program in the nation, with 49 states and the District of Columbia currently authorize its use. Arizona is the only state that does not allow its use. In 2012, California limited the use of TIF after evidence … Continue reading Tax Increment Financing Has Unclear Effects
Decision-making in a Community Redevelopment Agency
By Casey Barr As discussed in a previous blog post, Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs) are a form of special district government that funds local redevelopment projects with taxpayer subsidies. But how are spending and organizational decisions made in a CRA? (Source: City of Tallahassee. Available at: https://www.talgov.com/cra/CRAHome.aspx) CRAs can only be established when two governmental units, such … Continue reading Decision-making in a Community Redevelopment Agency
New Report Analyzes Tallahassee’s Permitting Process
By Matt Kelly An efficient regulatory process is essential to the business development strategies of cities like Tallahassee, Florida. Regulations that are too cumbersome or unnecessary increase the cost of doing business without serving the public interest. The growth and negative impact of regulatory accumulation at the federal level has been well documented, but local … Continue reading New Report Analyzes Tallahassee’s Permitting Process
Community Redevelopment Agencies
By Casey Barr Local governments face the perennial dilemma of obtaining money to fund community redevelopment projects. Requesting state or federal funds can be an arduous bureaucratic process, and these funds are often awarded to larger, more prominent cities, ignoring smaller towns where need is arguably greater. Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs) allow local governments to … Continue reading Community Redevelopment Agencies
Special District Spending Priorities and Political Entrepreneurship
By Matt Kelly and Tyler Worthington Special districts are small local governments created by state statute or local ordinance to fulfill a particular purpose in a specified geographic area. Some special districts control the mosquito population in an area, while others are in charge of things like fire protection, library administration, or utility services. Unlike … Continue reading Special District Spending Priorities and Political Entrepreneurship
Special Districts in Florida
By: Matt Kelly and Tyler Worthington Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Tip O’Neil once said, “all politics is local,” meaning that politicians must appeal to local constituents to succeed. Yet political economy is arguably most opaque and complex at local levels. Local governments have grown as numerous as they are multifaceted. Over … Continue reading Special Districts in Florida
Microfinancing: Good for the Poor?
By Logan Shewmaker Many businesses start on loans. Traditionally, the loan process works by allowing a business owner or individual to approach a bank, receive the money upfront, and then pay back the amount loaned out over a period of time. Bank loans range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to millions. Eligibility criteria usually … Continue reading Microfinancing: Good for the Poor?
Florida Facing the Wrong Direction on Immigration Reform
By Selene Capparelli The US immigration system has been badly broken for many decades. Mass deportation, enhanced border security, and keeping undocumented workers in perpetual illegal status have been proven to be very costly and ineffective methods to handle the constant influx of new immigrants.These policies result in hundreds of border-crossing deaths each year, abject … Continue reading Florida Facing the Wrong Direction on Immigration Reform
Urban gardens face zoning restrictions
By Stephany Bittar Urban gardens are cropping up all over the country, and it’s easy to see why. Growing food inside cities can be cheap, and can provide a new level of control over what we consume. Urban gardens can also strengthen communities by providing a healthy alternative to impoverished areas with limited access to … Continue reading Urban gardens face zoning restrictions
Health Care and Education Departments Spend the Most of Florida’s State Budget
By: Nick Hyder and Tian Ma With 2015 behind us, it’s worthwhile to take stock of last year’s spending by state government. A state’s spending says a lot about its priorities, and accountability to taxpayers is an important component of a democracy. The Agency for Health Care Administration tops the list of spending by state … Continue reading Health Care and Education Departments Spend the Most of Florida’s State Budget
The Top 10 Highest Earning Counties in Florida
By: Igor Lukashevich and Nadia James The top six Florida counties for revenue intake per capita are as follows: Duval, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Franklin, Charlotte, and Collier. Total revenues for counties follow very closely with total expenditures, as the same six counties also topped the list for expenditures per capita. This relationship makes sense because the … Continue reading The Top 10 Highest Earning Counties in Florida
Regulation of Uber, Lyft Should Be Local, Not Statewide
By Matt Kelly It seems that everywhere Uber, Lyft, and other transportation network companies (TNCs) set up shop, trouble with local regulators follows. The situation in Florida has been no different. The Uber vs. taxi debate has been so heated that state lawmakers have proposed legislation (HB 509) to simply regulate all vehicles for … Continue reading Regulation of Uber, Lyft Should Be Local, Not Statewide
EPA’s W.O.T.U.S. rule would affect much of Florida
By Tyler Worthington On June 29, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers added a new rule that redefined “Waters of the United States” (W.O.T.U.S.) to the Federal Register and broadened what streams, rivers, ponds, wetlands, ditches, and waterways are subject to federal regulations under the Clean Water Act. This rule marks … Continue reading EPA’s W.O.T.U.S. rule would affect much of Florida
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is Regressive and Risky
By Matt Kelly Citizens Property Insurance Corporation was formed by the Florida Legislature in 2002 for the purpose of serving Florida’s residual property insurance market. Its creation was justified by the argument that middle-income residents have a tough time purchasing insurance in a hurricane-prone state like Florida, and public subsidies were needed to even the … Continue reading Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is Regressive and Risky
Measuring Success and Failure in Public Transportation: The Case of Sunrail
By Santiago Arango In May, SunRail, Orlando’s commuter rail system, celebrated its first year of operation and was awarded a $93 million federal grant. Phase II of SunRail’s construction will add four more stations and 17.2 miles of rail into neighboring Osceola County within two years. Orlando is the 4th fastest growing city in … Continue reading Measuring Success and Failure in Public Transportation: The Case of Sunrail
Price Regulations Complicate Net Metering and Solar Energy
By Logan Shewmaker As in four other states, all electricity for residential use in Florida must be purchased from franchised utility companies. However, solar energy advocates are trying to change this by allowing private purchase agreements between residents and solar companies in order to expand rooftop solar power production in the Sunshine State. Crucial to … Continue reading Price Regulations Complicate Net Metering and Solar Energy
Transit and Tourism in Tampa’s Heritage Streetcar’s
By Santiago Arango Heritage streetcars are built both to provide transportation services and to preserve the history of rail transit, a history that dates back to ancient Greece and Rome. As of late 2012, seven U.S cities have running heritage streetcars. The Tampa Electric Company (TECO) Line Streetcar System is one example. The Florida Department … Continue reading Transit and Tourism in Tampa’s Heritage Streetcar’s
Off The Grid: The Future of Solar Power
By Logan Shewmaker According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Florida ranks 3rd in the United States for rooftop solar energy potential. But Florida only ranks 13th in “cumulative solar capacity installed.” Some experts think that this lack of solar energy installation stems from poor policy. James Fenton, director of the Solar Energy Center … Continue reading Off The Grid: The Future of Solar Power
Taxis and Ridesourcing Companies Serve Different Customers
By Matt Kelly Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and other “ridesourcing” services have been the subject of a near continuous stream of popular news stories, lawsuits, protests, and even regulatory reforms across the world. The reporting has often bordered on sensationalism, but a handful of recent economic studies have tried to objectively examine the effects of “ridesourcing” … Continue reading Taxis and Ridesourcing Companies Serve Different Customers
Solar Farm Proposed In Tallahassee
By Logan Shewmaker City of Tallahassee Utilities officials recently received proposals from solar contractors to build a solar farm, which could produce up to 10 megawatts of electricity (1% of Tallahassee’s energy needs). The project is expected to occupy 100 acres of land, and cost roughly $30 million. David Byrne, manager of electric system integrated … Continue reading Solar Farm Proposed In Tallahassee
New Study Sheds Light on Ridesharing’s Labor Market
By Matt Kelly Few economic issues have been more talked about this year than the disruptive forays into the taxi market by ridesharing technology companies like Uber and Lyft. It seems reasonable to assume ridesharing drivers are of the same ilk as traditional taxi drivers, yet little academic research has been done...until now. A recent … Continue reading New Study Sheds Light on Ridesharing’s Labor Market
Florida Risks Government Shutdown
Florida’s legislature failed to pass a budget in this years legislative session. The House and Senate are opposed on major issues related to health care policy and medicaid expansion. Interested readers will want to visit the Beacon, the blog at The Independent Institute’s website, where DeVoe Moore Scholar Dr. Randall Holcombe posted a blog on … Continue reading Florida Risks Government Shutdown
Pricing Water in Florida
By Tyler Worthington As Florida’s population grows it will have to address a multitude of new problems, including stress on water supplies. States like California have experienced severe water shortages in recent years, and mismanagement has exacerbated this problem. Because California does not accurately price water, it has been misallocated. In Florida, The Turkey Point … Continue reading Pricing Water in Florida
Is Florida All Aboard for Intercity Railroads?
By Matt Kelly A battle over railroads is underway in the Sunshine State. Activists in Florida have stridently protested All Aboard Florida (AAF), which will launch the United State’s first privately funded and operated intercity rail service in over 50 years. AAF’s opponents strongly doubts the enterprise’s financial viability. Generally, rail services across the country … Continue reading Is Florida All Aboard for Intercity Railroads?
FSU Students Learn about Emerging Sharing Economy
By Katie Dawson Last month, the DeVoe L. Moore Center had the opportunity to co-sponsor a one-day conference with the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) at Florida State University. FEE is an organization dedicated to educating individuals on free-markets and economics in a way that is both easily digestible and interesting. On February 28, their … Continue reading FSU Students Learn about Emerging Sharing Economy
Florida Legislators Seek To Clarify Ridesharing Regulations
By Matt Kelly The ridesharing technology company Uber has created quite a controversy overthe past year for its unprecedented disruption of the traditional taxi industry. Users praise the California-based company for shorter wait times and cheap fares, along with features like its driver rating system. Given the mobile app’s popularity with customers, many are now … Continue reading Florida Legislators Seek To Clarify Ridesharing Regulations
Depopulation of Citizens Property Insurance Should Continue
By Matt Kelly On February 17th, 2015, Florida state Senator Anitere Flores filed SB 1006, which would place restrictions on shifting insurance policies from state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to private sector insurers. Citizens’ policyholders would be notified before being transferred to private insurers, who would be barred from increasing premiums more than 10% annually … Continue reading Depopulation of Citizens Property Insurance Should Continue
Orlando’s Soccer Stadium Not Worth Public Investment
By Logan Shewmaker U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) is pushing to expand into Florida. Between 2008 and 2013, the average MLS franchise’s market capitaliztion grew 175 percent. The average attendance for MLS games exceeds 18,000, higher than the NBA. “The beautiful game” is growing in the United States, but does MLS growth justify public subsidies? … Continue reading Orlando’s Soccer Stadium Not Worth Public Investment
Florida’s Dysfunctional Property Insurance System
By Matt Kelly Many readers will remember the hurricane season of 2004 as a chaotic time to be a Florida resident. The Sunshine State received four torrential storms that year, causing $45 billion in losses. School was cancelled, streets were covered with debris, and 37 lives were lost. Since 2005, Florida has experienced a nine-year … Continue reading Florida’s Dysfunctional Property Insurance System
Sports Stadiums Not Worth Public Subsidies
By Logan Shewmaker Next time you attend a ballgame, consider for a moment the monumental effort necessary to build a sports stadium. Surely, stadiums are among the most impressive structures ever built. Tourists continue to marvel at the architectural wonder of Rome’s Coliseum. But does that justify public subsidies? Three-fourths of stadiums in the U.S. … Continue reading Sports Stadiums Not Worth Public Subsidies
New Study Tests the Merits of Surge Pricing
By Matt Kelly As Uber, Lyft and other “ridesharing” services continue to revolutionize the urban transportation landscape, more complaints are surfacing questioning the efficiency and fairness of the innovative services they provide. One of the more recent is “surge pricing,” the idea that services provided during peak periods carry a higher charge or fee. A … Continue reading New Study Tests the Merits of Surge Pricing
The Changing Landscape of Urban Transportation
Original post date: October 10, 2014 Article by: Ben Douglas Uber CEO Travis Kalanick recently released his vision for the future, touting “a million fewer cars on the road,” along with reduced congestion, emissions, and DUIs. If this vision is realized, in combination with an aging driving demographic and the rise of driverless cars, it … Continue reading The Changing Landscape of Urban Transportation
Do UberX Driveres Really Earn Three Times More than Taxi Drivers?
Original post date: September 16, 2014 Article by: Ben Douglas In May, Uber revealed annual median incomes for UberX drivers in New York and San Francisco of $90,766 and $74,191, respectively. In contrast, 2013 median annual taxi driver incomes in New York and San Francisco are $29,910 and $28,060 according to the Bureau of Labor … Continue reading Do UberX Driveres Really Earn Three Times More than Taxi Drivers?
Uber Wars Transcend Party Lines
Original post date: September 08, 2014 Article by: Ben Douglas 6/8/2023 Edits: Some links that were no longer working have been fixed. High-ranking Republican officials have recently come out in support of Uber, the innovative but legally-troubled ridesharing app that connects drivers and passengers. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus penned an op-ed in the … Continue reading Uber Wars Transcend Party Lines
Selling Land to Buy Land
Original post date: January 22, 2014 Article by: Anonymous 6/7/2023 Edits: Some links that were no longer working have been fixed. Florida has more than 3 million acres of state lands protected from development by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Almost 5,000 acres of this conservation land could soon be up for sale. The … Continue reading Selling Land to Buy Land
The Uber Wars
Original post date: December 10, 2013 Article by: Ben Douglas 6/6/2023 Edits: Some links that were no longer working have been fixed. In my previous blogs, I discussed some of the legal and regulatory hurdles encountered by Uber, a Transportation Network Company (TNC) that provides on-demand taxi and limousine services using a smartphone app to … Continue reading The Uber Wars
Transit as an Inferior Good
Original post date: November 25, 2013 Article by: Ben Douglas 6/6/2023 Edits: Some links that were no longer working have been fixed. Mass transit is frequently accompanied by mass-subsidization, cartelization, and monopolies. This chronic need for artificial support might be an indication of its inherent inferiority as an economically valued good or service. If consumers … Continue reading Transit as an Inferior Good
Customers Rise Up to Support Taxi Innovator
Original post date: November 19, 2013 Article by: Ben Douglas 6/6/2023 Edits: Some links that were no longer working have been fixed. Finding a more textbook example of regulatory capture than the taxicab industry is difficult, as the case of the innovative on-demand taxi service Uber clearly demonstrates. Despite the highly regulated nature of the … Continue reading Customers Rise Up to Support Taxi Innovator
Entrenched Interests Fight Innovation in Taxi Industry
Original post date: November 19, 2013 Article by: Ben Douglas 5/24/2023 Edits: Some links that were no longer working have been fixed. A revolutionary new smartphone app is changing the nature of the taxicab business, but stiff opposition from entrenched taxi companies risks keeping their innovations from benefiting customers. Uber is a venture-capital funded startup … Continue reading Entrenched Interests Fight Innovation in Taxi Industry
Equal Access to Transportation, a Right?
Original post date: November 06, 2013 Article by: Anonymous 5/16/2023 Edits: Some links that were no longer working have been fixed. Ray LaHood, the recently retired secretary of the Department of Transportation, said that equal access to transportation is “one of the most fundamental of American rights.” Mobility is a crucial aspect of life for … Continue reading Equal Access to Transportation, a Right?
Go Green, Don’t Expand Transit
Original post date: November 04, 2013 Article by: Ben Douglas The careful application of economics to policy reveals a host of ironies. Minimum wages create unemployment among the very unskilled laborers policymakers intend to help. Rent control destroys housing in the very cities it is intended to save. Adam Smith’s entire concept of an “invisible hand,” … Continue reading Go Green, Don’t Expand Transit
Transit Reform in Santiago: Part II
Original post date: October 22, 2013 Article by: Ben Douglas 5/16/2023 Edits: Some links that were no longer working have been fixed. The success of any endeavor is dependent upon the metric being used. If the goal of transit reform in Santiago, Chile was the elimination of profit from transit and the homogenization of bus … Continue reading Transit Reform in Santiago: Part II
Transit Reform in Santiago
Original post date: October 18, 2013 Article by: Ben Douglas 5/16/2023 Edits: Some links that were no longer working have been fixed. In 2007, Chile’s center-left ruling government coalition eliminated most private provision of transit, citing the need to eliminate profit and reduce the diversity of services offered to the traveling public in the capital … Continue reading Transit Reform in Santiago
Lima’s Transit Woes
Original post date: October 07, 2013 Article by: Ben Douglas The World Bank has devoted a considerable amount of funding in recent years to the establishment of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in Latin America (and Africa). Numerous prominent Latin American cities have taken loans from the global financial institution for this purpose, including Mexico … Continue reading Lima’s Transit Woes
Why Illegal Drug Money Doesn’t Promote Economic Development
Original post date: August 21, 2013 Article by: Sam Staley 5/10/2023 Edits: Some links that were no longer working have been fixed. Sandra Avila Beltran, the woman he reached the pinnacle of the Colombian-Mexican drug cartel as the "Queen of the Pacific," has been extradited back to Mexico. Her tale is a complicated one, and … Continue reading Why Illegal Drug Money Doesn’t Promote Economic Development
Will Elon Musk’s Hyperloop Doom High-Speed Rail?
Original post date: August 15, 2013 Article by: Sam Staley Elon Musk unveiled his pneumatic tube inspired Hyperloop, a “fifth mode” of transportation that he hopes will revolutionize intercity travel on Monday. His “technical paper” sketches out the engineering and technical plausibility of the concept, and the proposal seems surprisingly robust as I point out … Continue reading Will Elon Musk’s Hyperloop Doom High-Speed Rail?
Yellow Light Corruption
Original post date: June 05, 2013 Article by: Anonymous In the news recently is a story that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), in conjunction with municipalities around the state, has been responsible for shortening yellow light durations below the minimum level recommended by the federal government. The story, broken by 10 News in Tampa, … Continue reading Yellow Light Corruption
Ohio Pedicab Operator Regulatory Goal? Limit Competition
Original post date: June 04, 2013 Article by: Sam Staley 5/8/2023 Edits: Some links that were no longer working have been fixed. At least pedicab operators in Columbus, Ohio are honest about what they expect out of the city's licensing process: Purging the city of competition. The city is about to adopt regulations that, among … Continue reading Ohio Pedicab Operator Regulatory Goal? Limit Competition
Path Dependence, Entrenched Interests, and the Future of Transit
Original post date: April 09, 2013 Article by: Anonymous Path dependence: The tendency of a past or traditional practice or preference to continue even if better alternatives are available. Mortimer L. Downey has worked in New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (MATA), and was one of several presenters at a May … Continue reading Path Dependence, Entrenched Interests, and the Future of Transit
Florida Does Not Need More Corporate Welfare
Original post date: March 27, 2013 Article by: Anonymous 5/8/2023 Edits: Some links that were no longer working have been fixed. Even amongst fiscal conservatives, the argument is often made that the public funding of sports stadiums is justified because of the economic benefits they bring to their communities. According to TBO, the state senate … Continue reading Florida Does Not Need More Corporate Welfare
Buildings Don’t Create Permanent Jobs
Original post date: March 22, 2013 Article by: Sam Staley 5/8/2023 Edits: Some links that were no longer compatible have been fixed. Gaines Street is the "it" place for Tallahassee's economic redevelopment initiatives, skirting the northern edge of the southern border of the Frenchtown/Southside Community Redevelopment Area. With large new projects going up along the … Continue reading Buildings Don’t Create Permanent Jobs
Do Left-Leaning Cities Oppose New Housing?
Original post date: February 25, 2013 Article by: Anonymous Matthew E. Kahn of UCLA’s Institute of Environment concludes in a study published in the Journal of Urban Economics that cities with a majority of citizens registered in political parties with liberal tendencies—the Democratic Party, Green Party, and Peach and Freedom Party—issued fewer new housing permits … Continue reading Do Left-Leaning Cities Oppose New Housing?
For Whom the Road Rolls (Me or Thee?)
Original post date: September 05, 2012 Article by: Sam Staley A catchy little tune is making its way around the Internet, lambasting the tolls levied by the Dulles Greenway. The Greenway is a privately developed, owned, and financed extension of the Dulles Tollroad (which is publicly owned and operated). The song, “Highway Robbery,” laments the … Continue reading For Whom the Road Rolls (Me or Thee?)