Environment: Roman Revival?

Rome, the Eternal City, is in temporal trouble. It has a housing shortage of 100,000 units and a construction industry idled by a severe recession. As if determined to make matters worse, the city government has launched a massive campaign to demolish or take over new homes on the outskirts of town. Reason: the projects were erected illegally.

Under Roman law, all buildings must receive municipal permits before construction begins. The idea is not only to ensure that the structures are sound but also to require builders to follow Rome's 1965 master plan, which...

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