Market Urbanism: A vision for free-market cities

New Media UFM  | 16 de septiembre de 2022  | Vistas: 20

In the following conference, Scott Beyer, a traveling journalist and owner of the "Market Urbanism Report," will discuss his journalistic project, talk about market-based urbanism, its focus, and its goals. 

Scott has just embarked on a year and a half-long journey through the Global South as part of his journalistic report. Beyer mentions that this report began five years ago when he started a media company called "Market Urbanism Report," where he had been writing about urban planning and city politics in the United States for a decade. Now, he has decided to travel the world to gain different perspectives on urban planning.

How would cities function without government intervention?" – Scott Beyer

Beyer explains that Market Urbanism is a policy theory that applies free-market economics to urban issues. It is the study of urbanism from a classical liberal perspective influenced by Adam Smith, Frederick Hayek, and Jane Jacobs. Scott mentions that Market Urbanism has two main principles as its primary focus. The first one is housing, aiming to allow construction in the location, place, size, design, and density that the consumer desires. It opposes government reforms that hinder and condition constructions. The second principle is transportation, seeking to provide it through routes and models chosen by the consumer. It opposes the government making the choices and determining how to get around rather than the consumer.

Government reforms that hinder construction and transportation result in higher prices for consumers." – Scott Beyer.

Scott explains that Market Urbanism prioritizes the individual. He believes that each individual has different priorities and preferences, and due to the large population of cities, these preferences and priorities can be better reflected without government bureaucracies managing them. Instead, private initiative and entrepreneurs should take the lead to ensure that the needs and preferences of all individuals are met organically. 

Market Urbanism is against the whole idea of planning and design review." – Scott Beyer.