Baby Bust: Where Have All the 3-Bedroom Homes Gone?

In this episode, conservative pundit Sabrina Maddeaux and economist Mike Moffatt discuss the significant decline in the construction of three-bedroom homes in Ontario, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). They explore the implications of the 'baby bust' phenomenon, where fewer families are able to afford suitable housing, leading to a decrease in birth rates. The conversation delves into the regulatory barriers and economic conditions that have contributed to the housing crisis, emphasizing the need for policy changes to address the missing middle in housing options. The episode highlights the challenges faced by young families in navigating the current housing market and the importance of providing both rental and ownership opportunities.Chapters00:00 Introduction00:51 The baby bust and housing trends03:08 Why aren’t more 3-bedrooms being built?05:3 Home ownership is falling in parts of Ontario08:28 The Missing Middle’s North Star09:00 Renting or owning, it should be a choice12:30 Housing and fertility18:14 Should the government step in?19:35 Mike reminisces about Lawn Darts21:00 Urban growth boundaries have consequencesResearch/LinksPoilievre catches heat from opponents for talk of 'biological clocks'The Baby Bust and the Death of the Three-Bedroom Ownership HomeHard evidence on the link between housing and fertility.https://x.com/mikalskuterud/status/1907114728108773444https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5046571Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina MaddeauxProduced by Meredith MartinFunded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/