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It's amazing to me that, in the US, we're discussing deregulation and privatization of so many functional and working parts of the government apparatus (the United States Digital Service, public broadcasting, the post office, etc.), when deregulation of the housing market would probably do the most for public good. Distortion of the market, which includes outlawing SROs, jacks up housing prices and indirectly perpetuates so many societal problems: - Homelessness, which likely worsens mental health, increases drug usage, reduces tourism, creates a massive eyesore for everyone else, etc. - Lack of disposable income—if folks are spending more on a rent or mortgage payment, they're not spending as much on goods and services. - Inequality—artificially constricting the supply of housing creates a game of musical chairs, where some inevitably get left out and, because of that, can't climb up the social ladder. It also favors incumbents who already own homes or received their parents' home. - Sprawl—zoning restrictions stifle the construction of high-density housing, which makes cities inaccessible, increases car dependence, negatively affects the environment, etc. |