The early evidence described by The Wall Street Journal supports a narrower and still positive conclusion: The World Cup brought visitors to American cities and those visitors spent money. What policymakers should resist is converting a month of visible activity into an unsupported claim of economic growth.

The renewed interest in rent control, however, weakens that focus on addressing the problem by trying to manage the effects.

High spending does not automatically produce high performance. Residents care less about the size of a budget than whether streets are safe, permits are issued quickly and public services function reliably. The more useful question is not whether cities spend enough. It is whether they spend effectively.

Cities are no longer simply seeking to attract new employers or subsidize major projects. They are attempting to reshape entire land-use patterns and local economies.