Here in Czechia housing costs are absolutely terrible, which is at least partly caused by an insane, Byzantine permitting process under which a basic block of f

Here in Czechia housing costs are absolutely terrible, which is at least partly caused by an insane, Byzantine permitting process under which a basic block of flats in Prague can spend a decade in bureaucratic limbo before the construction can begin. Yet this is not really a problem of financialized economy, the roots are elsewhere: a. lots of NIMBYs, mostly curmudgeonly old people who want to block any change around them and, being in pension, have a lot of time to throw at thwarting anything. My personal experience is that they aren't really looking for money or profit, they just Simply Hate Anything New, Period, b. the ease of weaponizing environmental and planning regulations against any building project, by the means of lawsuits, c. local mayors have de facto (though not de iure) influence on the permitting process and they don't want to lose this tool of power over their constituents. It is an efficient way how to bash your enemies and reward your friends. From what I know about the US, at least a. and b. apply in many places, too.