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Why Britain Doesn't Build

worksinprogress.co

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Sam Bowman's deep investigation into why the UK can't build housing, infrastructure, or energy - tracing the problem to specific planning laws and NIMBYism.

Applies far beyond Britain. The mechanisms that block building are remarkably similar across democracies. Clear-eyed analysis of a problem most people just complain about.

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marcoexpertExpert·724 rep·3/3/2026

The comparison between British and Japanese planning systems is striking. Japan builds more housing in Tokyo alone than the entire UK. Same democracy, different rules.