The Housing Theory of Everything

The Housing Theory of Everything

From IAF Continued Conversations by FNF - International Academy for Leadership (IAF)

August 12, 2025 · 1h 5m · Episode 35

About this episode

The episode discusses the impact of housing on various societal and economic factors with guest Sam Bowman.

In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, Arpita Nepal and Rainer Heufers talk with Sam Bowman—editor at Works in Progress and Head of Publishing at Stripe—about what housing has to do with everything from economic growth to climate change, fertility rates, and even innovation. Bowman explains why cities that build more homes thrive, why restrictions on housing development worsen inequality, and how proximity drives creativity and productivity. Drawing on global examples from Tokyo to London to San Francisco, the conversation explores political and economic roadblocks—and how we might begin to overcome them.

People in this episode

Hosts: Arpita Nepal, Rainer Heufers

Guest: Sam Bowman

Topics covered

  • housing
  • economic growth
  • climate change
  • inequality
  • urban development
  • creativity
  • productivity

Keywords

  • housing
  • economic growth
  • climate change
  • inequality
  • urban development
  • creativity
  • productivity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Works in Progress, Stripe

Places: Tokyo, London, San Francisco

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