Exploring the challenges of 'Generation Rent' globally, the podcast discusses rent control trends, urban planning impact on rent prices, TikTok's legal battle in the US, and the resurgence of albums over singles in the music industry.
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Quick takeaways
Generation Rent struggles due to unaffordable house prices and limited homeownership opportunities.
Rent control poses challenges like housing shortages, inefficiencies, and hindering new construction.
Deep dives
Challenges of Generation Rent
The podcast discusses how a high percentage of the population, especially in the UK, are renting privately due to various factors like job market challenges, rapid inflation in house prices, and tighter mortgage rules. The trend towards private renting has made it difficult for millennials to own homes, affecting their financial stability and potentially impacting the labor market and city success.
Issues with Rent Control
Rent control is explored as a solution in many countries to address the affordability crisis in the rental sector. However, economists argue against rent control as it can lead to inefficiencies and hinder new construction. Examples from Sweden show how strict rent control can create housing shortages, distortions, and long waiting lists, indicating the challenges and limitations of this policy.
Alternatives to Rent Control
Countries like New Zealand have implemented policies like upzoning to encourage more dense development and increase housing supply. By supporting new construction near public transport and commercial areas, these policies have helped mitigate rent increases and offer potential solutions for the Generation Rent crisis. The podcast highlights the importance of addressing housing supply constraints alongside rent control initiatives.
Across the rich world millions spend more than a third of their disposable income on rent. We ask why policymakers have such terrible ideas on easing the pressure. America’s bid to crimp TikTok has raised a flurry of issues far graver than social-media scrolling (9:53). And why pop stars are (again) embracing the album over the single (15:46).