4 ms·

I believe I understand your opinion. In my very personal opinion you're ignoring a couple of variables: It's probably not even possible to expand housing capac

by zdkl 6y ago

I believe I understand your opinion. In my very personal opinion you're ignoring a couple of variables: It's probably not even possible to expand housing capacity to a significant degree in most locations it'd matters, Even if it were, I contend the overall cost of living would go up dramatically (even in the hypothetical new high rises) due to transportation saturation and supply chain drama, Also unless you literally double capacity everywhere what incentive do landlords (even new ones) have to moderate aggregate and individual rent growth? Since the state of the area is f'd today and demand is high, if there are any improvements demand can only go (dramatically) up.

jacobush 6y ago
Incentives can be changed. The economy is all just conventions and pretty arbitrary rules.
- zdkl 6y ago
  I disagree, insofar as the term "economy" interfaces with human nature and imperatives, such as the means to secure shelter and nurishment.
  - jacobush 6y ago
    Like it does currently?
ForHackernews 6y ago
> It's probably not even possible to expand housing capacity to a significant degree in most locations it'd matters, This sounds like an excuse. The city of Tokyo alone builds more housing every year than the entire state of California: https://www.thenational.ae/business/property/want-affordable-housing-then-take-inspiration-from-tokyo-and-build-more-of-it-1.713304 https://www.thenational.ae/business/property/want-affordable... Tokyo is an in-demand city in an earthquake prone area, and they've managed to create enough housing to stay ahead of demand.
- zdkl 6y ago
  This is only tangentially relevant. Japan has a culture where it's accepted that residential property is relatively medium term, and should be upgraded or rebuilt semi-regularily. Contrast that to real estate as an investment/heritance vehicule in the west. Also, personnaly I wouldn't be ready to live in a Tokyo flat and I suspect most of the target population isn't either. That we may not have a choice down the line is likely, but another issue.
  - ForHackernews 6y ago
    I think I'd live in a Tokyo flat if it cost $1200/month for a one-bedroom spot in the centre! [0] (with outstanding public transit, too) For that price, you can get a bunk-bed in San Francisco [1] [0] https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Tokyo https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Tokyo [1] https://sf.curbed.com/2019/7/18/20699340/podshare-san-francisco-bunk-bed-sf-sold-out?scrollnorefresh=1 https://sf.curbed.com/2019/7/18/20699340/podshare-san-franci...

by zdkl 6y ago

jacobush 6y ago

Incentives can be changed. The economy is all just conventions and pretty arbitrary rules.

zdkl 6y ago
I disagree, insofar as the term "economy" interfaces with human nature and imperatives, such as the means to secure shelter and nurishment.
- jacobush 6y ago
  Like it does currently?

ForHackernews 6y ago

> It's probably not even possible to expand housing capacity to a significant degree in most locations it'd matters, This sounds like an excuse. The city of Tokyo alone builds more housing every year than the entire state of California: https://www.thenational.ae/business/property/want-affordable-housing-then-take-inspiration-from-tokyo-and-build-more-of-it-1.713304 https://www.thenational.ae/business/property/want-affordable... Tokyo is an in-demand city in an earthquake prone area, and they've managed to create enough housing to stay ahead of demand.

zdkl 6y ago
This is only tangentially relevant. Japan has a culture where it's accepted that residential property is relatively medium term, and should be upgraded or rebuilt semi-regularily. Contrast that to real estate as an investment/heritance vehicule in the west. Also, personnaly I wouldn't be ready to live in a Tokyo flat and I suspect most of the target population isn't either. That we may not have a choice down the line is likely, but another issue.
- ForHackernews 6y ago
  I think I'd live in a Tokyo flat if it cost $1200/month for a one-bedroom spot in the centre! [0] (with outstanding public transit, too) For that price, you can get a bunk-bed in San Francisco [1] [0] https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Tokyo https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Tokyo [1] https://sf.curbed.com/2019/7/18/20699340/podshare-san-francisco-bunk-bed-sf-sold-out?scrollnorefresh=1 https://sf.curbed.com/2019/7/18/20699340/podshare-san-franci...