Tuesday, May 10, 2011

On the Commons with yours truly

Here is the link to Shu Bartholomew's site where you can listen to Shu and me talking about my new book and other things.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Beginning around 33 minutes to about 38 minutes, Ms. Bartholomew and Professor McKenzie talk about appearance of homes, and how the HOA industry has sold the idea that enforced uniformity of appearance preserves property values.

From the New York Times (May 14, 2011, via Instapundit):

For decades, Saddam Hussein’s government ruled over aesthetics in Iraq’s capital with the same grip it exercised over its people. A committee of artists, architects and designers approved the color of buildings as well as the placement of shrubs. With many beige brick buildings, and color used sparingly — most often on mosques — the city’s appearance was uniform and restrained.

But the committee, like Mr. Hussein’s government, fell apart after the United States invasion in 2003. Some years later, when Iraqis started rebuilding as the violence declined, there was no central arbiter. Bright colors started appearing, and places like the Trade Ministry were done up in pink, orange and yellow.