[ajmurmann]

With the low birth rates in many countries the housing problem could be solved once and for all...

[mytailorisrich]

Population can't grow for ever. We'll need to learn to live with a constant population (and even decreasing for some time) at some point in any case...

European governments do not want to face this reality and prefer to try to convince people that immigration is good (polls show that the people increasingly disagree).

[ajmurmann]

Why not? Earth doesn't look anything like Coruscant yet and we've barely settled a single planet

[rayiner]

Housing prices were lower in the past when birth rates were higher.

[ajmurmann]

Of course. I was hoping it was clear my response was facetious.

[cyberax]

Nope. "Urbanist advocates" can create real estate bubbles even with a shrinking population.

Case in point: Tokyo. You just need to make sure you _have_ to live in The City, and that there are no other options for you. And a shrinking population makes that _easier_.