The population of Canada is expected to hit 40 million within the next day or two, according to StatCan’s modelling.

  • EhForumUser
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    1 year ago

    This is just a failure of the free market to address the needs of the populace

    Yes, the failure of the free market to exist is understandably a problem. For example:

    • Municipal planning and zoning severely restricts where and what types of housing can be built.
    • Controls on immigration keeps out the immigrants who would actually see establishing new communities as a better life. In modern Canada, for all practical purposes we only let in rich immigrants who feel like they have better things to do.
    • Controls on immigration in other countries means it is difficult for us to leave.
    • Market manipulation (e.g. copyright) directs resources in bizarre ways, often away from people who need housing.

    The list goes on and on.

    I don’t know if I consider myself a free market type. I think smart regulation can be useful. But our specific attempt to avoid a free market is certainly broken, at least when optimizing for allowing housing for all. No doubt a free market would bring improvement over what we currently have for those in need of somewhere to live.