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The alternative proposed by the article is basically : let it unregulated, the market will provide. Which is how it was before. Was the problem solved? No. Mayb

The alternative proposed by the article is basically : let it unregulated, the market will provide. Which is how it was before. Was the problem solved? No. Maybe it is not the right solution but I doubt very much the author is concerned by the problem. The article says only some places have their rent capped so the rents of the uncapped ones are skyrocketing. I am not convinced it is a solution cause I don't claim to be competent in the matter but how about all rents be capped? This is a solution the article does not even bother to discuss. So it's just yet another piece telling you that things are how they are (that is to your disadvantage) and nothing should be done about it. The article put right wing populism and left wing populism on a equal footing but as far as I can see one tries to give access to a decent life and public services, the other leaves to fend for yourself while blaming any minority group for it.

cousin_it 6y ago
> The alternative proposed by the article is basically : let it unregulated, the market will provide. Which is how it was before. Was the problem solved? No. Sigh. Here's what the article actually says: > The right answer to that shortage would be to increase supply — for instance, by cutting red tape in zoning and construction. That's an alternative reform proposal, not going back to how things were before. I think it would work better than rent control, because increasing supply is better than haggling over fixed supply. Edit: another possible solution is a land value tax. It's non-distortionary (doesn't lead landlords to reduce or increase supply) and prevents a lot of rent increase.
- cassepipe 6y ago
  So increase offer by deregulating even more? Zoning and urban policies actually have a purpose : A nice city to live in And I am ready to bet that red tape has been cut again and again everywhere without solving the problem. Sorry for misrepresenting the article reform proposal but it did not strike me as a very innovative solution. More like more of the same.
  - cousin_it 6y ago
    Shrug. If two million people want to live in a city which has room only for a million, something has to give. Rent control doesn't increase housing. You must either increase housing somehow, or leave a million people unhappy. If you don't mind the other million, and only care about people already living in the city, you can make it honest by introducing a city-wide Tenant Permit issued only to current tenants. Rents stabilize due to fixed demand, people aren't tied to one apartment, and landlords are incentivized to offer better service. It has all the benefits of your plan and none of the drawbacks, right?
- brutusborn 6y ago
  It frustrates me to no end that on threads like these, comments on Georgist land-value taxes are buried so deeply. I wonder why they are not more widely recognised or discussed?
  - cassepipe 6y ago
    Georgist land-value taxes ?
u678u 6y ago
> Which is how it was before. Was the problem solved? One of the problems is that when Berlin was partitioned it was a showcase for Eastern and Western Germany and lots of money flowed in for construction without really enough people to fill it. Now people are moving there and no one building.

cousin_it 6y ago

> The alternative proposed by the article is basically : let it unregulated, the market will provide. Which is how it was before. Was the problem solved? No. Sigh. Here's what the article actually says: > The right answer to that shortage would be to increase supply — for instance, by cutting red tape in zoning and construction. That's an alternative reform proposal, not going back to how things were before. I think it would work better than rent control, because increasing supply is better than haggling over fixed supply. Edit: another possible solution is a land value tax. It's non-distortionary (doesn't lead landlords to reduce or increase supply) and prevents a lot of rent increase.

cassepipe 6y ago
So increase offer by deregulating even more? Zoning and urban policies actually have a purpose : A nice city to live in And I am ready to bet that red tape has been cut again and again everywhere without solving the problem. Sorry for misrepresenting the article reform proposal but it did not strike me as a very innovative solution. More like more of the same.
- cousin_it 6y ago
  Shrug. If two million people want to live in a city which has room only for a million, something has to give. Rent control doesn't increase housing. You must either increase housing somehow, or leave a million people unhappy. If you don't mind the other million, and only care about people already living in the city, you can make it honest by introducing a city-wide Tenant Permit issued only to current tenants. Rents stabilize due to fixed demand, people aren't tied to one apartment, and landlords are incentivized to offer better service. It has all the benefits of your plan and none of the drawbacks, right?
brutusborn 6y ago
It frustrates me to no end that on threads like these, comments on Georgist land-value taxes are buried so deeply. I wonder why they are not more widely recognised or discussed?
- cassepipe 6y ago
  Georgist land-value taxes ?

u678u 6y ago

> Which is how it was before. Was the problem solved? One of the problems is that when Berlin was partitioned it was a showcase for Eastern and Western Germany and lots of money flowed in for construction without really enough people to fill it. Now people are moving there and no one building.