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> quality of living per dollar has risen tremendously over the past generation Given how many more dollars it costs to rent or buy property compared to 20 year

• woodpanel 10y ago
  I think housing costs and quality of living per Dollar are two different things. Why? Aside from many reasons, we westerners changed our perception of what is included in our "quality of life"-basket. Some of those things that can enter this basket are especially scarce and inelastic. And since we've chosen that "life in a dense urban city part" should be in this basket we've chosen one of the most inelastic economic items. Still, it doesn't mean that this life-quality-basket is set in stone. Its composition will change again. And it doesn't have to become more expensive.
  • gaur 10y ago
    > I think housing costs and quality of living per Dollar are two different things. Well, I don't. I consider living in a place I don't like or a property I don't like to contribute to poor quality of life, and I'm definitely not alone in thinking that. Having >40% of my income eaten up to pay for a mediocre living situation is not good quality of life.
    • woodpanel 10y ago
      Thats your decision to put this costly housing in your basket. And your not alone making this decision, but a) its a trend and b) the aforementioned 70% of western workers aren't necessarily repeating your choice.
      • gaur 10y ago
        > Thats your decision to put this costly housing in your basket. That's true for a lot of people, so redefining "quality of life" to exclude housing and then claiming that everyone's quality of life is going up seems dishonest.