Good on Paper Who's Responsible for the Housing Crisis?
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Sep 3, 2024 
Yoni Appelbaum, deputy executive editor at Atlantic, joins host Jerusalem Demsas to unravel the hidden drivers of America’s housing crisis. They discuss how local governments, despite a favorable public image, are exacerbating issues like rising rents and economic stagnation. Appelbaum highlights the disconnect between local voters and decision-makers, and how zoning policies stifle mobility and exacerbate the affordable housing shortage. The conversation also touches on the role of activist groups challenging these entrenched local policies.
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Housing Crisis Core Problem
- The core problem with US housing markets is a lack of new construction in productive cities with good jobs.
- This shortage raises rents, impacts wages, and lowers economic mobility and productivity.
Cambridge Housing Crisis
- Cambridge, MA, was once an engine of mobility, but now high salaries make it unaffordable.
- This makes upward mobility difficult for immigrants and working-class Americans.
Williamsburg Housing Rule
- In Williamsburg, VA, a rule prevented more than three unrelated people from living together.
- Students violated this rule to afford housing, highlighting how local laws impact affordability.