[mazatta]

Airbnb is a zero sum game - what tourists win, locals lose.

Two of my coworkers are currently being forced to look for a new place to live in a tight housing market because their current landlord can make more money renting on Airbnb.

I've stayed in Airbnbs in the past (and appreciated the convenience), but I no longer will.

[jseliger]

Airbnb is a zero sum game - what tourists win, locals lose.

I think you mean that "zoning is a zero-sum game." Since the 1970s, when zoning became more severe and restrictive, housing costs have increased substantially: https://jakeseliger.com/2015/12/27/why-did-cities-freeze-in-.... We know how to create a positive-sum game: https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-03-14/californi..., but we've made doing so illegal.

[parthdesai]

You do know that Airbnb exists outside of California as well right?

I live here in downtown TO, and while we have a shortage of condo's, our condo has quiet a lot of Airbnb units. 1) This reduces number of units available for rent in the market, thus driving the price of available units up. 2) Creates a fucking terrible living conditions for people who actually live in the building. There was a long weekend where Airbnb guests literally broke elevator button because they couldn't get to their floor without their fobs. They throw garbage in the lobby, are loud af till 3-4am.

[CaptainZapp]

Same here,

The reason being that two youngsters, who illegally subletted their temporary lease, deemed it a great idea to run an illegal hotel.

It's a massive impact for the quality of life for the neighbours.

[grandmczeb]

It's not zero sum unless the housing supply is fixed - the additional income from Airbnb can be invested in new housing.

[ck425]

But that additional housing can also destroy the character of existing areas. That doesn't mean we don't build, just that it has to be considered, which is harder to do when demand is increasing too quickly.

[grandmczeb]

Sounds like preserving character is the real zero sum problem then.

[pc86]

Complaining about both the rapidly increasing housing prices as well as the loss of character in developed areas doesn't have any cognitive dissonance at all, though.

[ck425]

It's a balance, one that AirBnB is making far more difficult to maintain.

[_0w8t]

In Norway despite rising Airbnb hotel revenues increased. On a recent conference I talked with PhD students and they told me that without AirBnb they would not attend as travel expenses would be outside their travel budget.

[matwood]

Just having a meal in Norway blew up my travel budget ;)

[MrEfficiency]

>Two of my coworkers are currently being forced to look for a new place to live in a tight housing market because their current landlord can make more money renting on Airbnb

Isnt this economics? Travelers are moving money to your location. Your coworkers wont pay the increased rate, but travelers will.

Why are travelers looked down upon? New ideas, patronage in the city, and creating relations around the world.

[malvosenior]

Local homeowners win. Property values rise and you have the option of monetizing your house.