Economics Explored

Immigration & Australia’s housing crisis w/ Alan Kohler - EP191

Episode Summary

This episode delves into the pressing issues of housing and immigration in Australia, featuring a conversation with renowned financial journalist, Alan Kohler. The discussion revolves around the impact of high immigration rates on housing demand and affordability, emphasizing the need for coordination between immigration and housing policies. The episode also highlights the supply-side factors contributing to the housing crisis, such as restrictions on housing development and protections for character housing and heritage. The host Gene Tunny suggests the need for a national debate and parliamentary inquiry into Australia's immigration rate and population growth to weigh the benefits of immigration against the challenges of housing and infrastructure.

Episode Notes

This episode delves into the pressing issues of housing and immigration in Australia, featuring a conversation with renowned financial journalist, Alan Kohler. The discussion revolves around the impact of high immigration rates on housing demand and affordability, emphasizing the need for coordination between immigration and housing policies. The episode also highlights the supply-side factors contributing to the housing crisis, such as restrictions on housing development and protections for character housing and heritage. The host Gene Tunny suggests the need for a national debate and parliamentary inquiry into Australia's immigration rate and population growth to weigh the benefits of immigration against the challenges of housing and infrastructure. 

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What’s covered in EP191

• [00:01:58] Australia’s housing crisis. 
• [00:06:47] The need to coordinate immigration and housing. 
• [00:08:00] Short-term vs long-term rental - the impact of AirBnB, etc. 
• [00:13:05] Local governments and the housing shortage. 
• [00:18:30] Drop in average housing size. 
• [00:22:32] Increasing housing supply as a solution. 
• [00:24:17] Immigration and housing affordability. 
• [00:28:07] The pandemic response and the housing crisis.

Links relevant to the conversation

Alan Kohler’s articles:

Labor immigration and housing policies are an explosive mix

Alan Kohler: Population growth equals economic growth, but for whom?

RBA research on average household size:

A New Measure of Average Household Size | Bulletin – March 2023 | RBA

Previous Economics Explored episodes on housing:

Odd way to fix housing crisis proposed by Aus. Gov’t: invest in stocks first w/ Dr Cameron Murray, Sydney Uni. – Economics Explored

The high cost of housing and what to do about it w/ Peter Tulip, CIS – EP134 – Economics Explored

Missing Middle Housing podcast chat with Natalie Rayment of Wolter Consulting | Queensland Economy Watch    

Australian Financial Review articles on housing:

Housing supply crisis: How Auckland took on the NIMBYs and won

1.3 million missing homes blamed on councils and NIMBYs

Thanks to Darren Brady Nelson for connecting Gene with Alan Kohler, to Obsidian Productions for mixing the episode and to the show’s sponsor, Gene’s consultancy business www.adepteconomics.com.au. 

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