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Why not make it attractive for young couples in the west to start families instead of increasing immigration from developing countries? Believe it or not, the

Why not make it attractive for young couples in the west to start families instead of increasing immigration from developing countries? Believe it or not, the lack of babies in the west is not some fancy fashion choice started by the Millennials, but a consequence of the broken housing market formed by government economic and banking policies of the last couple of decades that turned real estate into an investment vehicle for the haves in the detriment of the have-nots who also suffered wage stagnation, effectively pricing out young couples out of decent homes, so instead of hanging a heavy bank loan around their necks for a shoebox for the next 30 years, they choose not to bother with kids or stay debt free and single. So how about we solve the housing market first, instead of throwing more gasoline on the fire via uncontrolled immigration in an already broken housing and jobs market?

causi 5y ago
Sure, but there's no reason we can't do both. but a consequence of the broken housing market You sure about that? Birth rate is inversely correlated with income. Why are people who can't afford houses still having more children? https://www.statista.com/statistics/241530/birth-rate-by-family-income-in-the-us/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/241530/birth-rate-by-fam...
- ChuckNorris89 5y ago
  >Birth rate is inversely correlated with income. That's a useless metric on its own if the rise in housing costs, education and childcare far exceed the rise in wages. Also, more immigration means more demand for housing that's already expensive and scarce for the local population. How does adding more immigration help with the housing crisis? Not saying we shouldn't have immigration, I'm saying it should be regulated to highly skilled professions that suffer demonstrated shortages (doctors, nurses, engineers, etc). We have enough food delivery bicycle couriers and wage slaves that juggle between the unemployment office and seasonal gigs that pay piss poor and are open to exploitation by crappy business owners who thrive on exploiting desperate immigrants who can't defend themselves and bring down the wages for everyone because we keep pushing for more uncontrolled immigration.
  - causi 5y ago
    How does adding more immigration help with the housing crisis? Well, more people to build the houses, for a start. The housing crisis has nothing to do with population. It's an entirely self-inflicted problem because it's impossible for a natural market to be both too expensive to purchase and not profitable enough to supply at the same time. Find the brakes and take them off. Rent control for new construction, pointless urban parking requirements, and NIMBYs are the culprits, not fresh immigrants.
    - ChuckNorris89 5y ago
      >Well, more people to build the houses, for a start. How so? Do you only let builders, contractors and handy-men immigrate in the country? >The housing crisis has nothing to do with population. How so? Housing prices are a function of supply vs demand, and more population equals more demand, unless you expect the immigrant population to be homeless.
      - watwut 5y ago
        The houses are not missing due to missing builders. There are no houses due to zoning restrictions, regulations that prevent apartments and force houses with yards.
rayiner 5y ago
Birth rates are lowest among higher income couples. The low birth rates in the west are the product of a culture that devalues marriage and decouples it from procreation.
- dwaltrip 5y ago
  And the low birth rates found in countries not in the west?
  - rayiner 5y ago
    Overshoot from population-control mentality adopted by Asia, with the encouragement of the West, during the 20th century. I'm from Bangladesh and my dad works in international development--my parents were actually a bit put off by my wife and I having three kids. It's socialized that educated, westernized people have only 1-2 kids, and poor religious people having more is a problem to be solved.
    - dwaltrip 5y ago
      Huh, interesting. I haven’t heard that theory before. I’ll think about that / try to read about it.

causi 5y ago

Sure, but there's no reason we can't do both. but a consequence of the broken housing market You sure about that? Birth rate is inversely correlated with income. Why are people who can't afford houses still having more children? https://www.statista.com/statistics/241530/birth-rate-by-family-income-in-the-us/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/241530/birth-rate-by-fam...

ChuckNorris89 5y ago
>Birth rate is inversely correlated with income. That's a useless metric on its own if the rise in housing costs, education and childcare far exceed the rise in wages. Also, more immigration means more demand for housing that's already expensive and scarce for the local population. How does adding more immigration help with the housing crisis? Not saying we shouldn't have immigration, I'm saying it should be regulated to highly skilled professions that suffer demonstrated shortages (doctors, nurses, engineers, etc). We have enough food delivery bicycle couriers and wage slaves that juggle between the unemployment office and seasonal gigs that pay piss poor and are open to exploitation by crappy business owners who thrive on exploiting desperate immigrants who can't defend themselves and bring down the wages for everyone because we keep pushing for more uncontrolled immigration.
- causi 5y ago
  How does adding more immigration help with the housing crisis? Well, more people to build the houses, for a start. The housing crisis has nothing to do with population. It's an entirely self-inflicted problem because it's impossible for a natural market to be both too expensive to purchase and not profitable enough to supply at the same time. Find the brakes and take them off. Rent control for new construction, pointless urban parking requirements, and NIMBYs are the culprits, not fresh immigrants.
  - ChuckNorris89 5y ago
    >Well, more people to build the houses, for a start. How so? Do you only let builders, contractors and handy-men immigrate in the country? >The housing crisis has nothing to do with population. How so? Housing prices are a function of supply vs demand, and more population equals more demand, unless you expect the immigrant population to be homeless.
    - watwut 5y ago
      The houses are not missing due to missing builders. There are no houses due to zoning restrictions, regulations that prevent apartments and force houses with yards.

rayiner 5y ago

Birth rates are lowest among higher income couples. The low birth rates in the west are the product of a culture that devalues marriage and decouples it from procreation.

dwaltrip 5y ago
And the low birth rates found in countries not in the west?
- rayiner 5y ago
  Overshoot from population-control mentality adopted by Asia, with the encouragement of the West, during the 20th century. I'm from Bangladesh and my dad works in international development--my parents were actually a bit put off by my wife and I having three kids. It's socialized that educated, westernized people have only 1-2 kids, and poor religious people having more is a problem to be solved.
  - dwaltrip 5y ago
    Huh, interesting. I haven’t heard that theory before. I’ll think about that / try to read about it.