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Household size and the housing stock

A common claim from supply truthers is that homes per capita is at all time highs, so there can’t be a supply crisis. For some number of reasons, a lot of people are just resistant to the supply story. To someone seeking anti-supply talking points, it seems like a really good point. I have written a little bit before about why it really isn’t an

There was already a regional dearth of housing before 2008, but even with the decline in population growth, the lack of production after 2008 created a sizeable national shortage that private forecasters massively undercount. If we tax vacancies, keep foreigners from buying pieds-à-terre, and ban Airbnb’s, we’d have plenty of homes.” Those complaints tend to be made with a tone that is in objection to supply-centered narratives, but they really are confirmations of the point that we lack supply. And, also, the reactionary position will have to continue to dig deeper and get worse - rounding up immigrants, blaming the homeless, stoking fear and distrust of financial institutions.

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