Archive: Columns
Modular 2.0: How Prefab Housing Is Making a Comeback
Offsite construction may be the fastest way to build housing cheaply
Should the Federal Government Launch “Rural 5G?”
Rural broadband programs are viewed as an essential investment. But they subsidize an unsustainable lifestyle
Can Tolls Really Fund Road and Infrastructure Expansion?
Tolls can be a better solution for financing roads and taking liabilities off taxpayers.
Freight Modernization Trends Accommodate Rail’s Growth
Innovations in train safety, power, and scheduling keep freight rail relevant—and face labor and political opposition
Hyperloop’s Potential for Revolutionizing Freight
Hyperloop developers are promising to make freight transport faster. Do the economics work?
Why Aren’t West Coast Ports Booming?
Gulf and East Coast labor and economic policies drive port activity up to West Coast levels
The Next Sharing Economy: Extended-stay Lodging
Long-term leases don’t make sense for certain renters. But neither do short-term rentals. Will the market be allowed to fill the need in-between?
How Capitalism (Not Regulation) Helps E-Commerce
3 e-commerce companies are a case study in how government laws and systems can make or break an industry
Is Texas the U.S. Capital of Logistics?
Free trade, a business-friendly climate, and urban agglomeration allows freight to thrive in Texas
Will Texas Get a Fifth Large Metro?
Texas’ “Big 4” metro areas—Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio—have all exploded with growth. Will a 5th sleeper one emerge?
How 3D Laser Scanning Cuts Construction Costs
The San Antonio company Reckon Point uses robots to scan building interiors. It joins a crowded field of competitors making inroads with laser technology
Massachusetts’ “Housing Choice” Could Deregulate Zoning
A heavily-regulated state has made it easier to approve construction. Is it enough to add more housing?