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

The Missing Middle with Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux

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.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:51 The baby bust and housing trends

03:08 Why aren’t more 3-bedrooms being built?

05:3 Home ownership is falling in parts of Ontario

08:28 The Missing Middle’s North Star

09:00 Renting or owning, it should be a choice

12:30 Housing and fertility

18:14 Should the government step in?

19:35 Mike reminisces about Lawn Darts

21:00 Urban growth boundaries have consequences

Research/Links

Poilievre catches heat from opponents for talk of 'biological clocks'

The Baby Bust and the Death of the Three-Bedroom Ownership Home

Hard evidence on the link between housing and fertility.

https://x.com/mikalskuterud/status/1907114728108773444

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5046571

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation and brought to you by the Smart Prosperity Institute.