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RENT HIGH?
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  2. Auckland broke away from its no-reform comparison.
?WHY IS
RENT HIGH?
Zoning reform → construction

Auckland broke away from its no-reform comparison.

Permits per resident tracked the synthetic comparison before reform, then rose sharply above it.

RECREATED FROM THE DATAFigure 5 · Synthetic and actual permits per thousand residents
Figure 5 · Synthetic and actual permits per thousand residentsPermits per resident tracked the synthetic comparison before reform, then rose sharply above it. Solid lines show observed values; dashed lines show an estimated comparison.024681012141991199620012006201120162022Permits per 1,000 residentsYearREFORM · 2016Actual AucklandNo-reform comparisonNo-reform comparisonActual Auckland
Figure 5 · Synthetic and actual permits per thousand residents. Series recovered from the vector paths in published Figure 5 and checked against its axes.
YearActual AucklandNo-reform comparison
19914.885.36
19924.464.89
19935.175.31
19947.197.19
19956.536.43
19967.347.45
19977.979.7
19986.247.33
19999.068.29
20006.045.95
20016.175.27
20029.246.41
20038.237.31
20048.667.15
20055.26.04
20064.85.24
20073.974.67
20082.543.26
20092.012
20102.052.32
20112.092.16
20122.622.73
20133.763.54
20144.643.83
20155.64.49
20165.995.35
20176.25.34
20187.454.64
20198.764.56
20209.514.54
202111.85.51
202212.264.05

Source: Greenaway-McGrevy (2026) · Figure 5; PDF p. 18

Keep in mind: The outcome is permits per resident, not completed or occupied homes. Synthetic Auckland is an estimated counterfactual.

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Auckland broke away from its no-reform comparison.

Permits per resident tracked the synthetic comparison before reform, then rose sharply above it.

Source
Greenaway-McGrevy (2026)
Figure
Figure 5 · Synthetic and actual permits per thousand residents · Figure 5; PDF p. 18
Keep in mind
The outcome is permits per resident, not completed or occupied homes. Synthetic Auckland is an estimated counterfactual.
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?WHY IS
RENT HIGH?

Too many people are chasing too few homes. See why—and what communities can do about it.

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