566. Why Is It So Hard (and Expensive) to Build Anything in America?
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Most industries have become more productive over time. But not construction! We identify the causes — and possible solutions. (Can you say ... “prefab”?) 

RESOURCES:

• "The Strange and Awful Path of Productivity in the US Construction Sector)," by Austan Goolsbee and Chad Syverson (*BFI Working Paper, *2023).
• "Infrastructure Costs)," by Leah Brooks and Zachary D. Liscow (*American Economic Journal: Applied, *2023).
• "The Silicon Valley Elite Who Want to Build a City From Scratch)," by Conor Dougherty and Erin Griffith (*The New York Times, *2023).
• "A Decent Home)," report by the President's Committee on Urban Housing (1968).

EXTRAS:

• "Edward Glaeser Explains Why Some Cities Thrive While Others Fade Away)," by *People I (Mostly) Admire *(2021).
• "Why Are Cities (Still) So Expensive?)" by *Freakonomics Radio *(2020).

SOURCES:

• Vaughan Buckley), founder and C.E.O. of the Volumetric Building Companies.
• Carrie Sturts Dossick), professor of construction management at the University of Washington.
• Ed Glaeser), professor of economics and chair the economics department at Harvard University.
• Michael Hough), director of MJH Structural Engineers.
• Ivan Rupnik), professor of architecture at Northeastern University.
• Chad Syverson), professor of economics at the University of Chicago.