Brian Highsmith
@bhighsmith.bsky.social
institutions, inequality, geography, democracy | asst law prof at UCLA
Enjoyed reading these reflections. “AI systems are trained on human judgments, after all. But they still learn a kind of averaged, derivative taste. As a result they can recognize what has been valued but I suspect will struggle to anticipate what should be valued.”
January 13, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Enjoyed reading these reflections. “AI systems are trained on human judgments, after all. But they still learn a kind of averaged, derivative taste. As a result they can recognize what has been valued but I suspect will struggle to anticipate what should be valued.”
Tax base fragmentation matters. Local governance in the US is highly fragmented: property tax revenues are collected—and critical services are provided—by ~90k independent jurisdictions, and centralized (redistributive) fiscal transfers are much lower than in other federal systems. See:
November 24, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Tax base fragmentation matters. Local governance in the US is highly fragmented: property tax revenues are collected—and critical services are provided—by ~90k independent jurisdictions, and centralized (redistributive) fiscal transfers are much lower than in other federal systems. See:
In addition to identifying such wealthy enclaves, we also find a mirror phenomenon: a distinctive form of place-based disadvantage that distinguishes entirely *poor cities* (e.g., Paterson NJ) from *poor neighborhoods* in prosperous cities (e.g., East Brooklyn). We call this "fiscal impoverishment":
November 24, 2025 at 4:42 PM
In addition to identifying such wealthy enclaves, we also find a mirror phenomenon: a distinctive form of place-based disadvantage that distinguishes entirely *poor cities* (e.g., Paterson NJ) from *poor neighborhoods* in prosperous cities (e.g., East Brooklyn). We call this "fiscal impoverishment":
We also uncovered a striking phenomenon of "corporate enclaves": localities w virtually no residents but millions (even billions) of dollars’ worth of commercial property. Examples include the Disney-owned jurisdictions near Orlando and the industrial city of Vernon in LA (profiled by Mike Davis):
November 24, 2025 at 4:40 PM
We also uncovered a striking phenomenon of "corporate enclaves": localities w virtually no residents but millions (even billions) of dollars’ worth of commercial property. Examples include the Disney-owned jurisdictions near Orlando and the industrial city of Vernon in LA (profiled by Mike Davis):
We identify over 500 of these municipal tax havens: jurisdictions with per capita tax bases many times larger than their metro average. They include well-known bastions of residential affluence like Malibu & Miami Beach—but also many smaller, less famous municipalities—all across the US.
November 24, 2025 at 4:39 PM
We identify over 500 of these municipal tax havens: jurisdictions with per capita tax bases many times larger than their metro average. They include well-known bastions of residential affluence like Malibu & Miami Beach—but also many smaller, less famous municipalities—all across the US.
Consider Honolulu. In spatial terms, its housing wealth is highly segregated (see map). But on our index, Honolulu receives the lowest possible score. Why? Bc Hawaii is the only US state w/o any formal local govts below its 5 counties: the full metro area is part of the same local tax base.
November 24, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Consider Honolulu. In spatial terms, its housing wealth is highly segregated (see map). But on our index, Honolulu receives the lowest possible score. Why? Bc Hawaii is the only US state w/o any formal local govts below its 5 counties: the full metro area is part of the same local tax base.
What is unique about our measure is that we aggregate wealth at the level of the municipality: the funding base for many critical public services. This allows us to capture the important difference between (1) a *wealthy neighborhood* in a larger municipality, and (2) a *wealthy municipality*
November 24, 2025 at 4:36 PM
What is unique about our measure is that we aggregate wealth at the level of the municipality: the funding base for many critical public services. This allows us to capture the important difference between (1) a *wealthy neighborhood* in a larger municipality, and (2) a *wealthy municipality*
We find significant variation in tax base inequality across metropolitan areas in the US—substantially driven by local government law, as state/regional variation in jurisdictional fragmentation interacts with (by spatially overlapping onto) different levels of economic segregation:
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
We find significant variation in tax base inequality across metropolitan areas in the US—substantially driven by local government law, as state/regional variation in jurisdictional fragmentation interacts with (by spatially overlapping onto) different levels of economic segregation:
For the whole US, we produce two metrics: one capturing the degree of tax base fragmentation within every metro area, and another capturing the own-source fiscal capacity of every general-purpose local jurisdiction (measured as per capita property wealth; standardized by metro).
November 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
For the whole US, we produce two metrics: one capturing the degree of tax base fragmentation within every metro area, and another capturing the own-source fiscal capacity of every general-purpose local jurisdiction (measured as per capita property wealth; standardized by metro).
🚨We analyzed 138 million geocoded property tax records to quantify how municipal boundaries spatially overlap onto economic segregation in every US metro area—creating disparities in localities’ ability to fund public goods. And we made an interactive map of our results! [1/16]
November 24, 2025 at 4:31 PM
🚨We analyzed 138 million geocoded property tax records to quantify how municipal boundaries spatially overlap onto economic segregation in every US metro area—creating disparities in localities’ ability to fund public goods. And we made an interactive map of our results! [1/16]
Found in the archives: In protest of populists' inclusion of "statutory" detail (like labor rights) in the 1910 Arizona constitution, conservatives introduced a petition to constitutionally limit the size of women's "merry widow hats".. honestly, great gag, have to hand it to them.
July 21, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Found in the archives: In protest of populists' inclusion of "statutory" detail (like labor rights) in the 1910 Arizona constitution, conservatives introduced a petition to constitutionally limit the size of women's "merry widow hats".. honestly, great gag, have to hand it to them.
What could go wrong! www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
June 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
What could go wrong! www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
The final version of my job market paper—about the strategies that have facilitated localized corporate domination at different points in our history—is now out. I'm so grateful to the SLR team and everyone else whose feedback has shaped this along the way! www.stanfordlawreview.org/print/articl...
June 16, 2025 at 2:35 PM
The final version of my job market paper—about the strategies that have facilitated localized corporate domination at different points in our history—is now out. I'm so grateful to the SLR team and everyone else whose feedback has shaped this along the way! www.stanfordlawreview.org/print/articl...
imagining the raucous scene of a populist third-party political convention in Omaha where it all culminates in a 20m rendition of “Yankee Doodle” that brings the house down
June 4, 2025 at 12:34 PM
imagining the raucous scene of a populist third-party political convention in Omaha where it all culminates in a 20m rendition of “Yankee Doodle” that brings the house down
This is a great, and well-reported, story about what happens when the world’s wealthiest man decides that he wants his own government.
May 3, 2025 at 12:21 PM
This is a great, and well-reported, story about what happens when the world’s wealthiest man decides that he wants his own government.
I am grateful for the opportunity to share some reflections—about courts & constitutional entrenchment of oligarchy, drawing lessons from state constitutionalism—in this exciting collection.
Check out “Court Reform Can’t Be Limited to ‘Reforming Courts’” here: rooseveltinstitute.org/blog/court-r...
Check out “Court Reform Can’t Be Limited to ‘Reforming Courts’” here: rooseveltinstitute.org/blog/court-r...
April 29, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I am grateful for the opportunity to share some reflections—about courts & constitutional entrenchment of oligarchy, drawing lessons from state constitutionalism—in this exciting collection.
Check out “Court Reform Can’t Be Limited to ‘Reforming Courts’” here: rooseveltinstitute.org/blog/court-r...
Check out “Court Reform Can’t Be Limited to ‘Reforming Courts’” here: rooseveltinstitute.org/blog/court-r...
In other life updates: I’m incredibly excited to be joining the law faculty at UCLA this summer as an asst prof. I’ll be teaching state constitutional law, contracts, and a local govt seminar ("Place, Race, & Power"). Feeling deeply grateful for all who have supported me along the winding path here!
March 6, 2025 at 2:47 PM
In other life updates: I’m incredibly excited to be joining the law faculty at UCLA this summer as an asst prof. I’ll be teaching state constitutional law, contracts, and a local govt seminar ("Place, Race, & Power"). Feeling deeply grateful for all who have supported me along the winding path here!
I've posted 'Governing the Company Town' (my job market paper; now revised), which contextualizes contemporary enclaves—like Elon Musk's TX municipal incorporations, Disney's FL special district, & global private city movements—within a longer history of capital-governed communities: bit.ly/4hi449O
March 6, 2025 at 2:36 PM
I've posted 'Governing the Company Town' (my job market paper; now revised), which contextualizes contemporary enclaves—like Elon Musk's TX municipal incorporations, Disney's FL special district, & global private city movements—within a longer history of capital-governed communities: bit.ly/4hi449O
The final version of "Regulating Location Incentives” is now posted. It draws from 19th cent. rail history to show how federal-level market regulation could address harms—to competitors, workers & consumers—created by location incentive megadeals. Many thanks to all who gave feedback!
bit.ly/49GeA7t
bit.ly/49GeA7t
December 3, 2024 at 9:03 PM
The final version of "Regulating Location Incentives” is now posted. It draws from 19th cent. rail history to show how federal-level market regulation could address harms—to competitors, workers & consumers—created by location incentive megadeals. Many thanks to all who gave feedback!
bit.ly/49GeA7t
bit.ly/49GeA7t
it must be said: a weeknight halloumi salad goes crazy.
November 8, 2023 at 11:50 PM
it must be said: a weeknight halloumi salad goes crazy.
I really appreciate this suggestion (from Gerald Frug) that what distinguishes “community” is not what we have in common by rather “the hard work of community building” between strangers.
October 7, 2023 at 3:42 PM
I really appreciate this suggestion (from Gerald Frug) that what distinguishes “community” is not what we have in common by rather “the hard work of community building” between strangers.