Thread

1. bbor · 1790706875 · focus · HN ↗

   A yes, capitalism; a system that works perfectly as long as communication and data processing technology is innefficent enough to put a natural efficiency limit on all firms. Reminds me of the scandal around rental price "collusion", which ultimately was kinda just really effective software for doing stuff that would normally be fine.

   *ETA:* And FWIW, the author here goes about as far towards that as they can -- a shoutout at the end! Anything else would be decried as biased, after all. Great article; shame it'll soon be downranked by the wonderful machines running this place :(

   1. bix6 · 1790706940 · focus · HN ↗

      You mean like withholding units from the market to overcharge renters when there’s people sleeping on the streets? Totally fine.

      1. a2dam · 1790721738 · focus · HN ↗

         You're describing conditions that actually result from the opposite of unfettered capitalism. Housing supply is artificially constrained because of zoning laws, tax incentives, rent freezes, environmental reviews, and general opposition to anything new, allowing landlords to behave like this (which, as an aside, they seldom actually do). The solution is to eliminate restrictions on housing construction so supply can grow with demand.

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