Tax the Rich . . . Until They Leave: Mamdani and Rent Control
From The Libertarian by The Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin
March 21, 2026 · 27 min · Season 1 · Episode 17
About this episode
Richard Epstein critiques NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's rent control and inheritance tax proposals, warning of their negative impact on housing and wealth retention.
Richard Epstein takes aim at NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s push for rent control and higher inheritance taxes, arguing that both policies punish landlords, shrink housing supply, and ultimately drive wealth—and people—out of the state. From empty apartments and collapsing incentives to interstate tax competition and capital flight, Epstein lays out a stark warning: policies that sound compassionate in the short run can devastate cities over time. A sharp, unsparing look at markets, incentives, and the high cost of getting them wrong.
People in this episode
Guest: Richard Epstein
Topics covered
- rent control
- inheritance taxes
- housing supply
- capital flight
- market incentives
Keywords
- rent control
- inheritance tax
- housing market
- capital flight
- New York City
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Civitas Institute, University of Texas at Austin
Places: NYC
More episodes of The Libertarian
- Trump’s Iran Gamble Is Backfiring · June 2, 2026 · 22 min
- When Trump Sued Himself: The $1.776 billion Slush Fund · May 29, 2026 · 29 min
- A Turning Point For Section 2: SCOTUS Reins in the Voting Rights Act · April 29, 2026 · 22 min
- The Half-War · April 11, 2026 · 21 min
- The Slippery Slope of Social Media Liability · March 27, 2026 · 23 min
- Iran, Regime Change, and the War Powers Act · March 4, 2026 · 27 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Libertarian podcast page.