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Economist Podcasts

Doing their not-own thing: “generation rent”

Jun 11, 2024
Tom Sasse, Public policy correspondent at The Economist, dives into the struggles of 'Generation Rent'. He explores why millions are burdened by high rents and inadequate housing policies. Sasse critiques the unintended consequences of rent control, particularly using Sweden as a case study. The conversation touches on the complex issues surrounding TikTok’s ownership and U.S. security concerns. Lastly, he discusses how contemporary female artists are reinvigorating the album format, contrasting it with the previous dominance of singles.
21:26

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Rent control presents challenges due to potential inefficiencies and housing allocation issues.
  • Balancing rent control with promoting new housing supply is crucial for addressing affordability crises.

Deep dives

Generation Rent: The Rise of Private Renting

The podcast delves into the significant increase in private renting, with one-fifth of the population now renting privately, up from a tenth in the early 2000s. This rise has resulted in about six million more renters, with over half of UK renters being over 35 now. The difficulties faced by millennials in entering the housing market due to factors like job scarcity, rapid inflation in house prices, and tighter mortgage rules after the financial crash are highlighted.

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