Books by William A. Fischel

A significant factor for many people deciding where to live is the quality of the local school district, with superior schools creating a price premium for housing. This title argues that the historical development of school districts reflects Americans' desire to make their communities attractive to outsiders.

The link between homeownership and political involvement, Fischel argues, explains several puzzles, such as why displacement of local taxation by state funds reduces school quality and why local governments are more efficient providers of environmental amenities. He calls for decentralization of the fiscal and regulatory functions of government.

Fischel argues that takings are less about the details of property law than they are about the fairness of politics. He employs jurisprudential theories, economic analysis, historical investigation, and political science to show why local land use regulations deserve a higher degree of judicial scrutiny than national regulations.