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"while rigging building codes so the only method of construction that's feasible is two by fours and drywall, instead of letting innovators and entrepreneurs fi

"while rigging building codes so the only method of construction that's feasible is two by fours and drywall, instead of letting innovators and entrepreneurs figure out cheaper and more durable methods of construction for homes." It turns out that 2x4 construction on a slab is one of the cheapest and most durable methods of construction around. Building codes are built from lives lost, and are not trivial to replace or improve on (similar to lessons learned in aircraft design). Building codes are purchased in lives. It would of course be cheaper to build favelas.

pdonis 7y ago
> It turns out that 2x4 construction on a slab is one of the cheapest and most durable methods of construction around. That the ordinary person knows of, yes. But that's a far cry from being the cheapest and most durable method possible. > Building codes are built from lives lost To some extent they are. But they also are an excellent vehicle for regulatory capture. The safety aspects don't need to be controlled by the government; see below. > It would of course be cheaper to build favelas. Would you buy one? In a free market, the construction industry would build what people wanted to buy. If people don't want to buy unsafe homes, nobody will be able to make money building unsafe homes. If people want assurance that their homes are safe (and even if they don't, their insurance companies will), there will be a market for third party home inspectors and standards organizations to provide it. Other industries have had no problem coming up with safety standards without government regulation; a good example is the Underwriters Laboratories standards for electrical devices.