[NoboruWataya]

While it's true that everyone is ultimately driven by self-interest, I don't think it's true that everyone is a NIMBY. Many people just don't see development of their area as being against their interests. Local business owners want the extra customers that come with new residential developments. Young people want more stuff to do in their area. Young families might want other young families to move into their area so their kids have others to play with. Renters don't care about the impact on property prices. People who moved to big cities, probably moved there because of the things that NIMBYs oppose.

In my experience NIMBYs tend to be heavily over-represented in the older and wealthier demographic. And this demographic has outsized political power in most Western democracies, which is a big part of the problem.