In a country with some of the world’s most expensive real estate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government wants housing to become more affordable.
In a country with some of the world’s most expensive real estate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government wants housing to become more affordable.
Canada does have an unusually small number of houses, relative to its population size, as compared to most other countries. It may be true that we still have a sufficient number of houses to house everyone, but not unlike farming, houses can burn down, get hit by tornadoes, etc. and having an oversupply can also be a social good to ensure that people can still find a roof over their head when things go wrong.
So additional construction is part of the solution, in Canada’s case. There’s also the fact that buildings need to be located in the places people want to move to, it’s not enough to simply have enough. At no point have I disagreed that critical industries should not have redundancies, so I don’t know why you are repeating that argument.
That still leaves the fact the current real-estate market has issues that require severe changes to resolve. And that you can’t just slap “supply” with a capital “S” on the problem and expect equilibrium to return quickly, efficiently, or indeed, at all.
We are currently in a state of equilibrium. The supply of houses is quite well matched to the demand for houses.
But you must remember that the call at the beginning of this thread was to see an increase in demand. Many are unsatisfied with the lack of demand found out there and see an increase in supply as a way to attract more buyers into the mix.
…what?
It’s in equilibrium in the same way that a market with only food available for half the people, finds a price for food, and still allows the poorer half to starve.
The reason demand is low isn’t because there aren’t people who want to buy homes, or enough homes to buy, even. It’s low because there aren’t enough homes that people can afford.
My original point was meant to illustrate how this isn’t being caused by simple supply and demand.
It’s a power inbalance between seller and buyer, which removes the ability of the latter to negotiate pricing.
If two families need a home, but one is so much richer that they can buy two homes, why would the seller sell a home to each family, when they can net more by selling both to the richer one?
Do this long anough, and homeownersship just become another wealth-gap currency where a disproportionate amount of real-estate is held by a few, who “allow” the many to live in it.
Yup. It is necessary for demand to recognize some kind of dividing line between those who have the desire and willingness to shoulder a cost for something and those who do not. “I’m hungry” isn’t sufficient to be counted as demand. Everyone gets hungry. The term demand would be completely meaningless if it referred to everyone. It wants to determine what you will give up in order to satisfy your hunger pangs.
Well, duh. Supply and demand is a tool for observing events. Of course it cannot cause anything. This is like saying a kid running away from home wasn’t caused by a neighbour who happened to see the kid exit the door. Of course. If this is your point… Why?
Right, which is why there was originally a call to see an increase in demand. With enough of a rise in demand, the poor families will naturally get included as able participants in the market. But there needs to be something to stimulate that. And expansion of the supply is one suggested way to broach that.
Now you’re just being rude, while adding less than nothing.
Did you actually have something to say?
Okay, great?
And, no, there is nothing that I need to say. Nor you, for that matter. Everything that needs to be said was said even before your first comment, and especially before mine. Which is no doubt why you keep saying complete nonsense, and why I make fun of it.
Well I’m happy you’ve found an effective way to change minds and make the world a better place.
Wait no, that’s the opposite of what you’re doing. You’re killing time until the collapse of civilization by doing your tiny part in causing it.
Well, I should hope I am doing the opposite of changing minds. That would be fucking weird to change someone’s mind. The mind they already have is what makes being around them worthwhile.
But, yeah, I agree to your second point. Computing is one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters going, so we are, indeed, destroying humanity by being here. Worse, unlike food, it provides nothing of actual value. But, at least I’m in good company.