The Mount Laurel doctrine: A case study in housing affordability and the labor market in New Jersey

The United States housing shortage has hampered economic growth and societal welfare for multiple decades, and New Jersey is one of the most severe examples of this historically overlooked predicament. As the most densely populated, economically segregated, and second-richest state, New Jersey has implemented many housing affordability policies, such as the Mount Laurel doctrine, which was enacted in Burlington County in 2000. These policies have incited immense amounts of controversy from both builders and residents alike. We explored the dynamic landscape of affordable housing policies in New Jersey within the context of a historical case study of the Mount Laurel doctrine. We hypothesized that the 140-home Ethel R. Lawrence (ERLH) housing complex in Burlington increased housing affordability for those of lower economic classes, decreased the unemployment rate, and increased the size of the labor force in Burlington County when compared to nearby counties. We considered variables such as the ratio of average rent to the average median income for both individuals and households, unemployment rate, and civilian labor force by county across three states. We found that the ERLH initiative and overarching Mount Laurel doctrine may have positively affected housing affordability strictly for individual residents as opposed to a negligible effect on households. The unemployment rate and labor force largely remained the same before and after the policy intervention. Drawing from lessons about NJ zoning, the land market, and housing supply, policymakers can navigate the intricate landscape of affordable housing and create a more equitable housing future for the United States.