1) is the entire goal of rent control. Everything else is just excuses that the people that want (1) have made up. I'm not even sure they're wrong either. Kicki

1) is the entire goal of rent control. Everything else is just excuses that the people that want (1) have made up. I'm not even sure they're wrong either. Kicking people out of their homes might maximize surplus, but it has huge negative effects on the utility of those that are forced to leave and those that are worried that they will, be forced to leave.