The Inflection Points Podcast

Auckland is the world’s most well-studied example of upzoning and planning reform. It’s the landmark story of how loosening restrictions enables more homes to be built—and yet the history of how it happened is not well understood.
Join New Zealand’s own Stuart Donovan for an in-depth chat about the Auckland upzoning, the housing crisis, and what it takes to get good policy over the line.


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It’s not the same as social housing, and it doesn’t help those most in need. Australia is spending big on ‘affordable’ housing—but we shouldn’t.The reality is that ‘affordable’ housing is deeply, intrinsically flawed. It is a wasteful use of public funds that redirects government support away from the people who need it most. It provides those who do benefit with help they don’t particularly value, and the criteria and rules set up to administer it result in bizarre outcomes. Most importantly, the policy is wholly ineffective at delivering the outcome Australians actually want: not ‘affordable’ housing, but inexpensive housing. Dominic Behrens co-authored “Against ‘Affordable’ Housing” with Ethan Gilbert, and is our guest on today’s show.Hosted by Jonathan O’Brien, Editor-in-Chief of Inflection Points.
Read the article: https://inflectionpoints.work/articles/against-affordable-housing


Get full access to Inflection Points at stack.inflectionpoints.work/subscribe

It’s not the same as social housing, and it doesn’t help those most in need. Australia is spending big on ‘affordable’ housing—but we shouldn’t.

In “Against ‘Affordable’ Housing”, Dom Behrens and Ethan Gilbert argue the reality that ‘affordable’ housing is deeply, intrinsically flawed. 
It is a wasteful use of public funds that redirects government support away from the people who need it most. It provides those who do benefit with help they don’t particularly value, and the criteria and rules set up to administer it result in bizarre outcomes. Most importantly, the policy is wholly ineffective at delivering the outcome Australians actually want: not ‘affordable’ housing, but inexpensive housing. 

Economist and Sydney YIMBY Secretary Dominic Behrens co-authored “Against ‘Affordable’ Housing” with Ethan Gilbert, and is our guest on today’s show.

Hosted by Jonathan O’Brien, Editor-in-Chief of Inflection Points.
Read the article: inflectionpoints.work/articles/against-affordable-housing

In October 2023, Jim Chalmers told the Sydney Morning Herald about his chocolate-eating habits. He said: "I don't do moderation, in anything. I'm always going 100 miles an hour. If I eat a piece of chocolate, I eat a block of chocolate."
On Tuesday night, he stood up in the House and ate chocolate.
He scrapped the fifty per cent capital gains tax discount. He quarantined negative gearing on existing homes. He cut the growth of the NDIS from ten per cent to two. He pulled the private health insurance rebate off the over-65s and shovelled the money into aged care. He put two billion dollars on the table for states and councils brave enough to reform planning.
It's the most interesting Budget since the Howard-Costello era.
It’s not quite a whole block of chocolate. But it’s a start.
Matt Bowes — Senior Associate at the Grattan Institute. Matt will take the reigns on infrastructure and housing.
Jessy Wu — Founder and Managing Director at Encour, a comms agency for the AI era. Jessy leads us through productivity and innovation.
Manning Clifford — Founding Editor-at-Large here at Inflection Points. Manning will steer us through state capacity and human flourishing.


Get full access to Inflection Points at stack.inflectionpoints.work/subscribe

In October 2023, Jim Chalmers told the Sydney Morning Herald about his chocolate-eating habits. He said: "I don't do moderation, in anything. I'm always going 100 miles an hour. If I eat a piece of chocolate, I eat a block of chocolate."
On Tuesday night, he stood up in the House and ate chocolate.
He scrapped the fifty per cent capital gains tax discount. He quarantined negative gearing on existing homes. He cut the growth of the NDIS from ten per cent to two. He pulled the private health insurance rebate off the over-65s and shovelled the money into aged care. He put two billion dollars on the table for states and councils brave enough to reform planning.
It's the most interesting Budget since the Howard-Costello era.
It’s not quite a whole block of chocolate. But it’s a start.
Matt Bowes — Senior Associate at the Grattan Institute. Matt will take the reigns on infrastructure and housing.
Jessy Wu — Founder and Managing Director at comms agency Encour. Jessy leads us through productivity and innovation.
Manning Clifford — Founding Editor-at-Large here at Inflection Points. Manning will steer us through state capacity and human flourishing.