BUILDING BETTER HOMES Government Strategies for Promoting Innovation in Housing

RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND ® is a registered trademark. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of its research sponsors. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from RAND. Building better homes : government strategies for promoting innovation in housing / Scott Hassell ... [et al.]. p. cm. " MR-1658. " Includes bibliographical references and index. PREFACE This study was prepared in response to a request from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Policy Development and Research and the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH). This report describes the importance of innovation in the U.S. housing industry, discusses the factors affecting such innovation, summarizes past efforts by the federal government to promote innovation , and suggests strategies that the federal government should consider to increase the rate of innovation in housing. The report was prepared for a broad audience including federal, state, and local government officials, participants in the homebuilding process, and those interested in better promotion and acceleration of innovation in housing. The institute's mission is to help improve public policy by conducting objective, independent research and analysis on policy issues that involve science and technology. To this end, the institute • supports the Office of Science and Technology Policy and other Executive Branch agencies, offices, and councils • helps science and technology decisionmakers understand the likely consequences of their decisions and choose among alternative policies iv Building Better Homes • helps improve understanding in both the public and private sectors of the ways in which science and technology can better serve national objectives. In carrying out its mission, the institute consults broadly with representatives from private industry, institutions of higher education, and other nonprofit institutions.