Should liberals get behind rent control?

What economists have to say about the suddenly revived debate

Rent-controlled apartments.
(Image credit: Illustrated | DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)

Rent controls are making a comeback.

Long dismissed by the economics mainstream as a premier example of inefficient and self-defeating policy, rent control languished for decades in a few cities. But earlier this year, Oregon became the first state government to enact rent controls, followed by a successful push that rocked New York state politics in June. Yet another bill is now working its way through California's state legislature.

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Jeff Spross

Jeff Spross was the economics and business correspondent at TheWeek.com. He was previously a reporter at ThinkProgress.