In recent years, much controversy has arisen over companies such as Airbnb and Uber. Airbnb and Uber are the poster boys of the “sharing economy”–a technological revolution that has allowed millions to become successful entrepreneurs. That revolution has been successful because it enables individuals to circumvent the regulatory cronyism that dominates many industries, such as…
In most political debates, we hear lots of claims about the alleged benefits of a particular program or policy. Those benefits invariably address some current problem (whether real or imagined) with little consideration of the long-term consequences. However, today’s policy decisions have implications and applications that extend far beyond the short-term. The decisions that we…
In 2015, Texas Central Partners announced that it had secured funding to move forward with a proposed high-speed railroad between Houston and Dallas. The project, which according to the company’s website will be funded by private investors, has attracted many opponents and generated great controversy, particularly among rural land owners along the proposed route. Opponents…
Too often, political debates fail to consider all of the alternatives. But if we are going to make rational and informed decisions, then we must consider all of the alternatives, as well as the pros and cons of each. We must consider the full context. Eminent domain serves as an example. We are often told…
It is understandable that individuals are more passionate about property rights issues that have a direct impact on their lives. For example, rural Texans are more concerned about eminent domain, water rights, and endangered species regulations, and they have little or no concern about historic preservation or tree protection ordinances. Urban Texans are more concerned…
On Christmas Eve, 2017, owners of a parcel of land in Victoria, Texas, had several oak trees removed from their property. The owner’s actions renewed a debate that has been raging across Texas: Should property owners be allowed to remove trees on their land whenever they desire? Or should government regulate tree removal? As the…
Calls for new laws regarding the use of eminent domain echo across the state. Rural land owners are finding their property seized to build pipelines and a railroad. In south Texas, property owners are facing seizure to build the border wall. While stating their support for property rights, many prominent Texas politicians have defended the…
In the 2017 legislative session, Texas lawmakers sought to restrict the ability of local governments to violate property rights. Not surprisingly, local governments and the supporters of regulations pertaining to plastic bags, trees, short-term rentals, and more were upset. They argued that local governments should be allowed to enact the laws that their citizens want….
In the 2017 legislative session, Texas lawmakers considered numerous bills aimed at limiting the ability of local governments to pass ordinances regulating private property. One of these bills addressed short-term rentals (STRs). According to the Texas Tribune, proponents of SB451 (the Senate bill addressing STRs), said that the bill “would protect homeowners from strict local…
On Christmas Eve 2017, a property owner in Victoria had two large oak trees removed. Victorians immediately protested and sought to stop the tree removal. One Victorian, Doris Santiago, said, “These oak trees are an integral part of our history. And for them to do this the morning before Christmas, it’s morally wrong.” Such moral…
In recent years, we have repeatedly been told that Texas is facing an affordable housing crisis. In June 2017, the Texas Tribune reported that “more than 2 million urban Texan households, most of them renters, are considered financially burdened by housing costs because they spend 30 percent or more of their income on housing — and…
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution states that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation. In the years since, this has been a source of great controversy. What is a public use? And what is just compensation? In this brief, we will examine the latter issue. To fully…