Big Think Millennials: the immobile generation | Derek Thompson
Nov 19, 2025
Derek Thompson, a staff writer at The Atlantic and host of the podcast Plain English, explores the critical issues of housing policy and affordability. He discusses how the 2024 election will hinge on housing concerns, presenting a choice between affordable but immobile areas and pricey, dynamic cities. Thompson highlights the role of NIMBYism in constricting housing supply and power dynamics favoring homeowners over non-homeowners. He advocates for updating laws to enable construction that supports both urban growth and environmental needs.
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Affordability Drove The 2024 Vote
- The 2024 election reflected deep voter concern about affordability, especially housing costs.
- High housing costs and rising age of first-time buyers drove youth political shifts.
Mobility Versus Affordability Trade-Off
- The American dream has split between affordable places and high-mobility cities.
- People must often choose affordability or upward mobility, but rarely get both.
How NIMBY Rules Choked Development
- A legal and cultural shift gave neighbors power to block new development, slowing housing supply.
- The NIMBY revolution and zoning changes made it much harder to build in desirable cities.