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About
Jason M. Barr is a professor of economics at Rutgers University-Newark, and an affiliated member of the Rutgers Global Urban Systems (GUS) Ph.D. program. His research interests include urban economics, real estate economics, and the economics of tall buildings. Dr. Barr received his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University (1992), an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College (1995), and a Ph.D. in Economics from Columbia University (2002). He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, the Eastern Economic Journal, and the International Journal of High-Rise Buildings. Dr. Barr is the author of Building the Skyline: The Birth and Growth of Manhattan’s Skyscrapers (OUP, 2016) and Cities in the Sky: The Quest to Build the World’s Tallest Skyscrapers (Scribner 2014). He currently writes the Skynomics Blog, a blog about skyscrapers, cities, and economics.
CTBUH Designated Expert
CTBUH Roles
Height and Data Committee, Member (2024 – Present)
Annual Conference, Presenter (China 2016; Chicago 2019)
First Skyscrapers Symposium, Steering Committee (2019)
Videos
18 October 2016
CTBUH Video Interview – Jason Barr
Jason Barr of Rutgers University-Newark is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2016 CTBUH China Conference. Jason discusses the economics, demand and desirability of constructing...
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Research
01 May 2025
Skyscrapers underpin urban economic and cultural vibrancy, creating dense hubs for human activity, argues Jason M. Barr.
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Research
16 May 2023
The Economics of Record-Breaking Height
Jason Barr & Peter A. Weismantle
This paper reviews the development history of record-breaking skyscrapers to better understand their economics. Given how tall they are, the supposed reason for their construction...
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Videos
18 October 2016
CTBUH Video Interview – Jason Barr
Jason Barr of Rutgers University-Newark is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2016 CTBUH China Conference. Jason discusses the economics, demand and desirability of constructing...
18 October 2016
CTBUH 2016 China Conference - Session 6c: Economic Considerations Q&A
Tuesday October 18, 2016. Shenzhen, China. Eric Lee of JLL; Stephen Y.F. Lai of Rider Levett Bucknall; Jason Barr of Rutgers University; Brian Rignley of...
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18 October 2016
Skyscrapers and Skylines: The Case of China
Tuesday October 18, 2016. Shenzhen, China. Jason Barr of Rutgers University, presents at the 2016 China Conference Session 6c: Economic Considerations. Since 1978, when China...
Research
01 May 2025
Skyscrapers underpin urban economic and cultural vibrancy, creating dense hubs for human activity, argues Jason M. Barr.
16 May 2023
The Economics of Record-Breaking Height
Jason Barr & Peter A. Weismantle
This paper reviews the development history of record-breaking skyscrapers to better understand their economics. Given how tall they are, the supposed reason for their construction...
28 October 2019
Skyscrapers and City Well-Being in the United States: A Statistical Investigation
Dr. Jason Barr, Rutgers University; Jennifer Johnson, International Data Team
An important element of tall building sustainability is the effects the buildings have on the social and economic well-being of residents. The results of a...
17 October 2016
Skyscrapers and Skylines: The Case of China
Jason Barr & Jingshu Luo, Rutgers University-Newark
Since 1978, when China instituted economic reforms, cities have embraced skyscraper construction. Despite the importance of these structures, little is understood about what has been...
01 June 2016
The Economics of Skyscraper Construction in Manhattan: Past, Present, and Future
Jason Barr, Rutgers University
This paper discusses the economics of skyscraper construction in Manhattan since 1990. First the paper reviews the economic theory of skyscraper height. Next it documents...
26 October 2015
The Economics of Skyscraper Construction in Manhattan: Past, Present, and Future
Jason Barr, Rutgers University
This paper discusses the economics of skyscraper construction in Manhattan since 1990. First the paper reviews the economic theory of skyscraper height. Next it documents...
22 October 2015
The Economics of Manhattan Skyscrapers
Jason Barr, Rutgers University
The skyline, as a collection of skyscrapers, is inherently an economic phenomenon. The heights, frequencies, locations, and shapes of skyscrapers are driven by the costs...
01 February 2014
Skyscrapers and Skylines: New York and Chicago, 1885–2007
Jason Barr, Rutgers University
This paper investigates skyscraper competition between New York City and Chicago from 1885 to 2007. Skyscraper rivalry between these cities is part of US historiography,...
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