Abundance Ezra Klein Derek Thompson Book Summary

AI generated summary and discussion. Abundance argues that America's 21st-century problems stem from "chosen scarcities"—policy and political decisions, not inherent limitations. The authors advocate for a "politics of abundance," emphasizing building and inventing more in key areas.A major example is the housing crisis, caused by years of insufficient building due to restrictive zoning and local opposition, often driven by homeowners viewing houses as investments. Similarly, the transition to clean energy is hampered by opposition and permitting hurdles.Bureaucracy and regulation across sectors like construction, infrastructure, and science are significant obstacles, slowing progress and increasing costs with complex rules and procedures. The slow pace of infrastructure projects exemplifies this, contrasted by the rapid I-95 bridge reconstruction under emergency exemptions.In science and innovation, the NIH funding process is criticized for becoming bureaucratic and risk-averse, hindering potentially transformative research. Operation Warp Speed demonstrates the potential for rapid progress through focused government action. Restrictive immigration policies also limit the influx of skilled scientists.The book notes that both the right and left contribute to these scarcities through different priorities and resistances. Overcoming them requires a shift towards a future of abundance through active building and investment, with liberals having an opportunity to lead this change by embracing supply-side solutions and effective governance. The authors aim to provide a new perspective on these challenges.

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