This week, the discussion heats up with allegations against RealPage for colluding to inflate rents. The hosts analyze Nvidia's earnings, debating its real worth amidst stock market hype. They also dive into Australia’s new ‘right to disconnect’ law and consider whether American workers will ever get similar relief. Plus, a cheeky mini-segment ponders the pros and cons of drinking in airports. Get ready for a blend of serious insights and lighthearted banter!
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Quick takeaways
The DOJ's lawsuit against RealPage highlights how algorithms may facilitate collusion among landlords to unjustifiably raise rental prices.
The broader implications of rising rents driven by RealPage's practices exacerbate housing affordability issues, particularly for low-income renters.
Deep dives
The RealPage Antitrust Lawsuit
The Department of Justice has filed an antitrust lawsuit against RealPage, a company that collects and packages rental data for property managers and landlords. The lawsuit claims that RealPage is involved in price-fixing, conspiring with landlords to increase rents unfairly. While RealPage services only about 7% of apartments nationwide, in certain markets, its influence and data may encompass a much larger portion, reaching up to 50%. This raises concerns about its ability to exert significant control over rental prices, especially when landlords utilize its algorithms for setting rents.
Public vs. Private Rental Data
RealPage distinguishes between public and private rent data, with the latter being crucial for landlords. Public data includes advertised rents, while much of the private data involves renewal rents, which can be higher than newly advertised prices due to the value of maintaining current tenants. Sharing this private renewal rent information among landlords may enable collusive behavior, similar to price-fixing in other industries. The DOJ’s case emphasizes that such practices can distort market dynamics and lead to unjustifiable rent increases.
The Role of Algorithms in Price Recommendations
RealPage utilizes algorithms to recommend rental prices to landlords, with noticeable implications for market pricing strategies. These systems often suggest increases that landlords might not have considered, which raises questions about the fairness and legality of such practices. The DOJ alleges that RealPage employees actively encourage property managers to adopt these suggested price hikes, which fosters an environment of coordinated pricing rather than competitive pricing. This intervention shifts the dynamics from mere data provision to potential collusion, blurring the lines of competitive market behavior.
The Broader Impacts of Rental Pricing
The increase in rental prices driven by RealPage's algorithms has broader implications for housing affordability, especially amid ongoing supply shortages. As luxury rentals see significant price hikes, lower-income renters are pushed down in the market, leading to increased competition for substandard housing options. This scenario places additional pressure on those least able to afford such hikes, exacerbating issues related to homelessness and housing instability. Experts emphasize that without addressing the fundamental supply-demand imbalance in the housing market, merely targeting practices like those of RealPage will not resolve the systemic issues affecting tenants.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiersdiscuss the lawsuit against RealPage, a software company the DOJ says helps landlords collude to keep rents too damn high. Also: Was Nvidia’s earnings report worth the hype? And Australia got a new “right to disconnect.” Will Americans ever get to unplug? In the bonus mini-episode, the hosts debate whether airports should limit alcohol and the promise and peril of drinking on planes.
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Podcast production by Jared Downing and Cheyna Roth.
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