New housing starts in the United States, with a trend line overlayed. No account for per capita population growth in these numbers either by the way.

I can pull data on basically any scarce and demanded consumption good and demonstrate why it’s production has been decreasing or stagnating, but I shouldn’t even have to. The argument is from fundamental first principles.

If people have less of their own money to spend on things they want, and if the money they are spending on things they want loses value, we will end up producing less real goods that people actually want, especially compared with an alternate world where people are free to spend and save their money as they please.

Technology advancements have covered for a lot of the destruction created by inflation, high taxation, and government spending, but it can only get you so far. And consider that stasis shouldn’t be the end goal of a society - our advancements should materially be making our lives better, not just keeping them the same in the face of economic manipulation.

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Housing starts are way more constrained by local land use policies than anything else.

Local land use policies have gotten worse because people treat houses as a store of value instead of a consumable good, reducing the incentive to increase supply.

I agree that the situation is complex but it’s undeniable that fiat money and top down economic controls have led to us having less quality housing for more expensive prices.