So would you advocate that there be no zoning/building regulations? The article you linked has a slightly misleading title; it would be more accurate to say: "

So would you advocate that there be no zoning/building regulations? The article you linked has a slightly misleading title; it would be more accurate to say: "with today's zoning laws, 40% of the buildings in Manhattan would have been replaced by slightly smaller buildings which allow more light to reach the street." I already find Manhattan overly dense, and I can imagine those regulations were put in place for good reason. In Berlin, we have had laws on the books forever which prevent tall buildings and excess density, and I'm glad because if developers had their way, they would build high-rises where all the parks currently are, and this would not be a city I would want to live in. In general I'm not a fan of over-regulation or excess government intervention, but when it comes to housing, I think it does make more sense to treat it as a public good. Government is not perfect, but people should have some voice in how their community develops, and this will not be the case if housing development is left only to private interests.