3 ms·

I have seen a lot of these "neat" solutions over the past few years. And the counter arguments I've seen are "we already have this, it's 10x cheaper, faster to

I have seen a lot of these "neat" solutions over the past few years. And the counter arguments I've seen are "we already have this, it's 10x cheaper, faster to setup, etc...". These arguments are based on things like the Ikea shelters/homes, or other prefab stuff that's _super_ cheap. But, the arguments against these is that it doesn't provide income for local labor, or use local resources... but neither does this 3d printed house. So, where is this all really going, when we have multiple solutions right now that could help people, but they are not being used? Is the problem actually political and corruption, and not technical or monetary? Or are these other solutions just as much hot air, and we really do need a new tech to fill in the gap?

pjc50 9y ago
Housing is rarely limited by construction, it's limited by land rights and infrastructure buildout. Oh, and credit availability; even down to "microcredit" for the really poor places.
- RobertRoberts 9y ago
  Then doesn't seem like then the most likely successful solution will be the _easiest_ to get past the bureaucracy? Seems like a discouraging thought. Maybe a fancy 3d printed solution would appeal to some politicians ego, and that's the trick to getting it to happen?
  - pjc50 9y ago
    There's an excellent discussion of this in The Other Path : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Other_Path:_The_Economic_Answer_to_Terrorism https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Other_Path:_The_Economic... Basically the author points out that so much housing in Peru was slums built on illegally occupied land that technically belongs to the government, what was needed was a route to legitimacy. Give people proper title to the land they had already had possession of for decades and suddenly they can use it as collateral. Legitimacy also causes people to choose more durable building methods. If there's a risk of being thrown out there's no point making anything more than a tin shed.
    - smokeyj 9y ago
      > Give people proper title to the land they had already had possession of for decades and suddenly they can use it as collateral. Makes you wonder how the municipality keeps track of titles and tax assessments. Without collecting proper taxes how can the local government provide water/sanitation/energy/education? Perhaps what these people need more than affordable housing is affordable yet sustainable government. Give the people the tools they need to self organize, trade, set up courts and resolve disputes. With the basics in place it might be possible to attract capital via municipal bonds to invest in critical infrastructure. Having running water and electricity makes it easier to attract business which in return generates taxable revenue.
      - pjc50 9y ago
        Considerable progress has been made: http://web.worldbank.org/archive/website00819C/WEB/PDF/PERU_LAN.PDF http://web.worldbank.org/archive/website00819C/WEB/PDF/PERU_...

pjc50 9y ago

Housing is rarely limited by construction, it's limited by land rights and infrastructure buildout. Oh, and credit availability; even down to "microcredit" for the really poor places.

RobertRoberts 9y ago
Then doesn't seem like then the most likely successful solution will be the _easiest_ to get past the bureaucracy? Seems like a discouraging thought. Maybe a fancy 3d printed solution would appeal to some politicians ego, and that's the trick to getting it to happen?
- pjc50 9y ago
  There's an excellent discussion of this in The Other Path : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Other_Path:_The_Economic_Answer_to_Terrorism https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Other_Path:_The_Economic... Basically the author points out that so much housing in Peru was slums built on illegally occupied land that technically belongs to the government, what was needed was a route to legitimacy. Give people proper title to the land they had already had possession of for decades and suddenly they can use it as collateral. Legitimacy also causes people to choose more durable building methods. If there's a risk of being thrown out there's no point making anything more than a tin shed.
  - smokeyj 9y ago
    > Give people proper title to the land they had already had possession of for decades and suddenly they can use it as collateral. Makes you wonder how the municipality keeps track of titles and tax assessments. Without collecting proper taxes how can the local government provide water/sanitation/energy/education? Perhaps what these people need more than affordable housing is affordable yet sustainable government. Give the people the tools they need to self organize, trade, set up courts and resolve disputes. With the basics in place it might be possible to attract capital via municipal bonds to invest in critical infrastructure. Having running water and electricity makes it easier to attract business which in return generates taxable revenue.
    - pjc50 9y ago
      Considerable progress has been made: http://web.worldbank.org/archive/website00819C/WEB/PDF/PERU_LAN.PDF http://web.worldbank.org/archive/website00819C/WEB/PDF/PERU_...