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Samuel Staley is director of urban and land use policy at Reason Foundation, a nonprofit think tank advancing free minds and free markets.
Staley is co-author, with Reason's Ted Balaker, of the book The Road More Traveled: Why the Congestion Crisis Matters More Than You Think and What We Can Do About It (Rowman & Littlefield, 2006). U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters, says, "Balaker and Staley clearly debunk the myth that there is nothing we can do about congestion."
Staley's previous book, Smarter Growth: Market-based Strategies for Land-use Planning in the 21st Century (Greenwood Press, 2001), was called the "most thorough challenge yet to regional land-use plans" by Planning magazine.
Staley is the author of two other books: Drug Policy and the Decline of American Cities (Transaction Publishers, 1992) and Planning Rules and Urban Economic Performance: The Case of Hong Kong (Chinese University Press, 1994).
Staley's approach to urban development and policy blends more than 20 years of experience as an economic development consultant, academic researcher, urban policy analyst, and community leader. Governing and Planning magazines have identified him as one of the nation's foremost critics of conventional smart growth and a leader in developing practical, market-oriented alternatives.
His professional articles have appeared in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Journal of the American Planning Association, Capital University Law Review, Urban Land, Planning magazine, and many others. He is the co-editor, with SUNY-Purchase College economist Sanford Ikeda, of a symposium on "urban interventionism" published by the Review of Austrian Economics (June 2004).
Staley is a former chair his local planning board in his hometown of Bellbrook, Ohio. He is also a former member of its Board of Zoning Appeals and Property Review Commission, and a former chair of its Charter Review Commission. He is currently a trustee of The Miami Valley School, an independent, K-12, college preparatory school in Dayton, Ohio.
Staley received his B.A. in Economics and Public Policy from Colby College, M.S. in Social and Applied Economics from Wright State University, and Ph.D. in Public Administration, with concentrations in urban planning and public finance from Ohio State University.
Report
Missouri's Changing Transportation Paradigm
February 2008
By David Stokes, Leonard C. Gilroy, and Samuel R. Staley
» Full Report (.pdf)
» Policy Summary (.pdf)
Report
Statewide Growth Management and Housing Affordability in Florida
October 2007
By Leonard C. Gilroy, Samuel R. Staley, and Sara Stedron
» Full Text (.pdf)
Policy Brief 47
Addressing California's Affordable Housing Shortage: Alternatives to Proposition 1C
September 2006
By Leonard C. Gilroy, AICP, Adam B. Summers, and Samuel R. Staley, Ph.D.
» Full Brief (.pdf)
Policy Study 331
Eminent Domain, Private Property, and Redevelopment: An Economic Analysis
February 2005
By Samuel Staley and John P. Blair
» Full Study (.pdf)
» Policy Summary
» Press Release
Policy Study 287
Smart Growth and Housing Affordability: Evidence from Statewide Planning Laws
January 2002
By Samuel R. Staley and Leonard C. Gilroy
» Full Study (.pdf)
» Policy Summary (.pdf)
Report
Urban Sprawl and Quality Growth in Ohio
December 2001
By Samuel R. Staley and Matthew Hisrich
» Full Study (.pdf)
Policy Brief 20
Market-oriented Approaches to Growth: Outsmarting Sprawl's Impacts
August 2001
By Samuel R. Staley
» Full Study (.pdf)
Policy Study 277
Giving a Leg Up to Bootstrap Entrepreneurship: Expanding Economic Opportunity in America's Urban Centers
February 2001
By Samuel R. Staley, Howard Husock, David J. Bobb, Sterling Burnett, Laura Creasy, and Wade Hudson
» Full Study (html)
Policy Brief 12
The Vanishing Farmland Myth and the Smart-growth Agenda
January 2000
By Samuel R. Staley
» Full Study (.pdf)
Policy Study 263
A Line in the Land: Urban-growth Boundaries, Smart Growth, and Housing Affordability
November 1999
By Samuel R. Staley, Jefferson Edgens, and Gerard Mildner
» Full Study (html)
Policy Brief 11
Urban-Growth Boundaries and Housing Affordability: Lessons from Portland
October 1999
By Samuel R. Staley
» Full Study (.pdf)
Report
“Urban Sprawl” and the Michigan Landscape: A Market-Oriented Approach
September 1999
By Samuel R. Staley
» Full Study (.pdf)
Policy Study 251
The Sprawling of America: In Defense of a Dynamic City
January 1999
By Samuel R. Staley
» Full Study (html)
Policy Study 236
Market Oriented Planning: Principles and Tools
November 1997
By Samuel R. Staley and Lynn Scarlett
» Full Study (html)
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Stop Trying to Force People Out of Cars
Policymakers need to respect America's preference for cars
September 21, 2008 | Sacramento Bee
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Were Never Privatized
Government-sponsored enterprises dealt with risk and profit differently
September 18, 2008 | Reason.org
By Sam Staley and Anthony Randazzo, Reason
» Full Text
Vice President's Role In Governing Evolves
Sarah Palin and the peculiar odyssey of the modern American vice presidency
September 12, 2008 | Reason.org
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Sustainable Mobility in American Cities
Road pricing, transit and private sector funding should all play a role
September 8, 2008 | Reason.org
By Shirley Ybarra and Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
California to Restrict Driving With Latest Global Warming Plan
State seeks to regulate where you can live so it can reduce your driving
August 26, 2008 | Reason.org
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Dayton, Ohio: The Rise and Fall of a Former Industrial Juggernaut
What Dayton can tell cities about staying competitive in today's global economy
August 11, 2008 | NewGeography.com
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
A Carbon-Free Electricity System in 10 Years
Gore energy plan may signal the twilight of free economies
July 22, 2008 | Reason.org
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
The Future Federal Role for Surface Transportation
Testimony to U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
June 25, 2008 | Testimony
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Gas Tax Increase or Private Capital?
China, Australia, European countries are funding infrastructure with private capital
July 16, 2008 | Reason.org
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Hey Ohio, Suing Companies Isn't Good for the State's Economy
Litigation strategy reflects poverty of Ohio economic development policy
July 10, 2008| Reason.org
By Samuel Staley
» Full Text
The Myth of the Gas Price "Crisis"
Drivers, carmakers and oil companies will respond to the market
June 19, 2008 | Reason.org
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
As Gas Prices Rise-We'll Adapt
Government shouldn't meddle in oil and gas market
May 22, 2008 | Reason.org
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Politicians Must Ignore Urge to "Do Something" About Housing Woes
Officials can do little but ride out housing market crash
April 15, 2008 | Los Angeles Business Journal
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Cities Can Sell Abandoned Homes in Blocks
Urban revitalization needs to be based on economic realities
March 23, 2008 | Indianapolis Star
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Eliot Spitzer and the Seduction of Crusader Politics
Hypocritical politicians manipulate system to serve their own agendas
March 12, 2008 | Reason.org
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Government Bonds and Debt Disguised as "Stimulus"
Strickland's FDR-style stimulus package is no way to help Ohioans
February 21, 2008 | Cincinnati Enquirer
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Is Housing "Crisis" Causing a Recession?
Growing the economy, not more regulation, is the key to ending the housing slump
January 22, 2008 | Reason.org
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
A Congested Economy
How tolls and congestion pricing can reduce air travel and road delays
November 25, 2007 | The New York Times
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Technology, Not Transit, Is Key to Improving Mobility
Reducing impacts on the environment through innovation, not transit mandates
August 29, 2007 | Washington Examiner
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Highways to Help
New York metro area transportation investments should reflect changing travel, commuting patterns
August 5, 2007 | The New York Times
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
For Traffic Solutions Think Over the Box
Queue jumpers and tunnels can help ease New York's gridlock
July 15, 2007 | The New York Times
By Ted Balaker and Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Virginia's Road Crunch
State can beat congestion by prioritizing resources
July 15, 2007 | The Free Lance Star
By Samuel Staley and Geoffrey F. Segal, Reason
» Full Text
Stadium Doesn't Guarantee Economic Gains
Oceanside taxpayers should ask serious questions about proposed Chargers stadium
July 1, 2007 | North County Times
By Leonard Gilroy and Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Congressional Leaders Flunk Transportation Policy 101
Threatening states, working to "undo" public-private partnerships is counterproductive
May 22, 2007 | Reason.org
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
How Traffic Jams Are Made In City Hall
The bad logic and failed policies of transportation planners
April 2007 Print Edition | Reason magazine
By Sam Staley and Ted Balaker, Reason
» Full Text
Hollywood: Do as I say, not as I do
Global warming strategy consists of asking others to sacrifice
March 14, 2007 | Orange County Register
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
5 Myths About Suburbia and Our Car-Happy Culture
Congestion crisis is here, but filled with misinformation
January 28, 2007 | Washington Post
By Ted Balaker and Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
How to Untangle Gridlock
Tunnels, double-decked roads, tollways and private financing are part of the cure for a disease everyone knows will get worse
January 19, 2007 | Los Angeles Times
By Ted Balaker and Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Making Gridlock a Priority
We can beat congestion with the right tools
December 27, 2006 | Boston Globe
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
It's Too Early to Derail Daniels' Tollway Plan
Indiana's transportation efforts are leading a national trend
December 2, 2006 | Indianapolis Star
By Geoffrey Segal and Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Robert Redford and Property Rights
Is California's Prop 90 the most dangerous threat ever?
November 1, 2006 | Reason.org
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
California's Proposed Bonds are Fiscally Irresponsible
Bonds cost taxpayers nearly $2 for every $1 borrowed
October 11, 2006 | San Francisco Examiner
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Growth Buffers Are Wrong Tool for Indiana Planners
Plan will likely prevent local housing market from meeting emerging housing demands
August 16, 2006 | Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Property Owners Score Major Victory in Ohio
Eminent domain decision could set post-Kelo national trend in state courts
July 27, 2006 | Reason.org
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
It's Time to Reconstruct America's Interstate System
Reconfiguring our regional highway system for today's economy
June 30, 2006 | Reason.org
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Do Highways Cause Traffic Congestion?
The slow road to economic ruin
June 29, 2006 | Reason.org
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Gas Prices, Fuel Efficiency Follow the Market
Hawaii learns with price caps debacle
May 15, 2006 | Reason.org
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Republicans and Gas Prices: Look in the Mirror
Abandoning free market principles won't bring down prices at the pump
April 26, 2006 | Reason.org
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
It's Time to Tackle California's Traffic Crisis Head On—Privately
State funding isn't needed for major projects to be built
April 10, 2006 | Reason.org
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Funding Our Crumbling Roads
U.S. is coming around to the logic of private-sector investment
February 6, 2006 | Reason.org
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Urban Homestead Zones May Help Revitalize City Centers
Testimony to Ohio House of Representatives Committee on Economic Development and Environment
February 1, 2006 | Testimony
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Has the Supreme Court Killed Capitalism?
Local governments seem to have carte blanche on eminent domain
January 18, 2006 | Reason.org
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
School Impact Fees Create Unfair Financial Burdens
Ohio's push to fund school facilities is off the mark
January 9, 2006 | Reason.org
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
How Zoning Keeps Homes Out of Reach, Increases Prices
Zoning laws should reflect community needs
December 19, 2005 | Investor's Business Daily
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Poor Planning, Growth Laws Hurt Ohio Town
Anti-growth forces face reality check
October 16, 2005 | Cincinnati Enquirer
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Kelo, Eminent Domain, and Government Discretion
Testimony to Indiana's Interim Study Committee on Eminent Domain
August 10, 2005 | Testimony
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text (.pdf)
Is Kelo Good For Urban Planning?
Court upheld process, but not good planning
July 5, 2005 | Planetizen.com
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
The Courts and Property
Less scrutiny for eminent domain
Summer 2005 | Indiana Policy Review
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text (.pdf)
Hoosier Rights at Risk
Indiana needs to rein in eminent domain
June 30, 2005 | The Herald-Press
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Homeowners Make Way for Bulldozers
Supreme Court decides property rights aren't rights after all
June 27, 2005 | Knight-Ridder Tribune News Service
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Property 'Takings' Evolved Over Years
Indiana needs to balance private property rights and the public interest
June 26, 2005 | The Journal Gazette
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Regulating the Land Market
Canadians more likely to achieve growth-management objectives via markets
June 1, 2005 | Atlantic Institute for Market Studies
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Eminent Domain Takes Center Stage
Investment discouraged when governments can seize homes and businesses
April 1, 2005 | Budget & Tax News
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
'Second-Guess' Eminent Domain? Yes!
High court appears all too willing to let governments abuse property rights
February 23, 2005 | Orange County Register
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Determining Who Ultimately Owns Your Home
The fate of property rights hangs in the balance
February 23, 2005 | San Diego Union-Tribune
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Questionable Benefits of a New Indy Stadium
Purported benefits are another snow job
January 2, 2005 | Indianapolis Star
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Moratoria on Growth Signal Failure of Planning
Moratoria are bold evidence of poor political leadership
November 16, 2004 | Dayton Daily News
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Scrapping the Zoning Code to Solve LA's Housing Crisis
Inclusionary zoning backfires
October 5, 2004 | Los Angeles Daily News
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Does Sprawl Really Kill?
Sprawl/health studies don't live up to hype
October 1, 2004 | Knight Ridder Tribune News Wire
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
LA To OC: Resist NFL's Siren Call
Team owners should build stadium if they want to enter market
August 29, 2004 | Los Angeles Times
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Can Downtowns Survive the 21st Century?
The future of the downtown is uncertain
August 15, 2004 | Downtown Idea Exchange
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Libertarians At the Gates Of New Urbanism
Considering a market-oriented approach to new urbanism
April 28, 2003 | Planetizen.com
By Samuel Staley, Reason (contributor)
» Full Text
City Planning: Slow vs. Smart Growth
Questioning the value of limiting growth
March 6, 2003 | National Public Radio
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason (contributor)
» Full Text
Wrecking Property Rights
How cities use eminent domain to seize property for private developers
Feb. 2003 | Reason magazine
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
True Smart Growth
Markets offer the widest range of options
May 21, 2002 | Buckeye Institute
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason and Matthew Hisrich
» Full Text (.pdf)
Feds Should Let Gas Prices Run Their Course
Higher gas prices will transform the automobile industry
May 8, 2002 | Reason.org
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason and Lynne Kiesling, Reason
» Full Text
The Technology-Migration Paradigm and Urban Sustainability
Technology's influence in shaping regions can't be ignored
April 25, 2002 | Reason.org
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Outsmarting Growth's Impacts in Virginia
Virginians must avoid the mistakes of the past
April 17, 2002 | Virginia Institute
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text (.pdf)
Kmart, the Big Box, and the Role of Planning in American Cities
Focus on impacts and processes, not outcomes
March 18, 2002 | Planetizen.com
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Smart Growth, Growth Management, and Housing Affordability in Washington State
A Response to 1000 Friends of Washington
March 18, 2002 | Reason.org
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason and Leonard Gilroy, Reason
» Full Text
Restricting Housing Not Answer to Ohio's Growth Problems
Growth control advocates want to restrict housing choices
January 16, 2002 | Buckeye Institute
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason and Matthew Hisrich
» Full Text
Church's Campaign Against Sprawl May Do More Harm Than Good
Church's approach to growth problems is naive
November 29, 2001 | Mackinac Center
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Harry Potter and the Future of Smart Growth
What does the movie says about American living standards?
November 27, 2001 | Baltimore Sun
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Concept Misused: Impact Fees an Inexact Science
Atlanta officials should consider abandoning impact fees
October 17, 2001 | Atlanta Journal Constitution
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
What Can We See In Manhattan's Urban Future?
Staley examines potential market responses to attacks
October 5, 2001 | Reason.org
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Driving Forces...Cars As Life Rafts For The Urban Poor
Transit is not the best way to help the poor
August 7, 2001 | Bridge News Service
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason and Leonard Gilroy, Reason
» Full Text
Statistics on Sprawl Meaningless if They Oversimplify
"Sprawl index" oversimplifies a complex process
July 22, 2001 | Houston Chronicle
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Market-Oriented Planning: Out of the Smart Growth Abyss
A better approach to growth management
January 1, 2001 | Michigan Forward
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text (.pdf)
Poor Communities, Small Builders will Bear Burden of Ballot-box Zoning
Ballot-box zoning will hurt Arizona families
November 1, 2000 | Reason.org
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Smart Growth, Markets and the Future of the City
A better approach to growth management
November 1, 2000 | Michigan Forward
By Samuel R. Staley, Reason
» Full Text (.pdf)
Urbanization Trends Don't Threaten US Quality Of Life
Despite sprawl hype, the sky is not falling
December 31, 1999 | Bridge News Service
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Effective Sprawl Solutions Found in Market, Not Regional Planning
Sierra Club gets it wrong on sprawl
October 24, 1999 | Detroit News & Free Press
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Madison's Taxi Regulations Stifle Innovation, Competition
More competition would open door to new companies
August 4, 1999 | Capital Times
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Big-box Retailers have Important Regional Benefits
Community benefits from new business growth
July 9, 1999 | Dayton Daily News
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
The Price of Urban Growth Controls
San Diego should avoid growth boundaries
August 9, 1998 | San Diego Union-Tribune
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Market-Oriented Approach for Farmland Preservation Best Bet for Michigan
Preservation should be addressed through voluntary, market-based approaches
July 6, 1998 | Mackinac Center
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Urban Sprawl: Michigan's Bogeyman of the 1990s?
Attempts to stop sprawl will hurt quality of life
March 2, 1998 | Mackinac Center
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Urban Sprawl: A Grassroots Defense
Hostility towards suburbs is misplaced
December 1, 1997 | Reason.org
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Portland, Metro and The Plan: Boon or Bane for Regional Development?
Portland's reality is far less persuasive than its press
November 1, 1997 | Reason.org
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
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