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People leave because of second-order effects to policies that they voted for. California is expensive because of decades of policy that make it hard to build ho
by oceanplexian 5y ago
People leave because of second-order effects to policies that they voted for. California is expensive because of decades of policy that make it hard to build housing, some of the more ridiculous ones I've heard are banning natural gas in new homes and mandating photovoltaic panels on all new constructions.
Since basic economics still applies, prices get inflated, some of the people don't like the economics of what they voted for so they decide to move to Arizona or Texas or Florida and then once they've "got theirs" they smugly vote for more of the same policies that always apply to "someone else". Hence where the acronym NIMBYism comes from.
- sagarm 5y agoBasic economics says prices are set based on supply+demand not cost. Cost of course affects supply, but right now the main housing supply limiter in urban areas is restrictive permitting and to some degree lack of construction labor (a nationwide echo of 2008). As a result increased construction costs mostly come out of landowner's returns. Most efficiency standards actually lower monthly housing costs, including your two examples of solar panels and natural gas bans. Note that the solar can be built offsite, and solar + electric is a natural (hah) combination.