Economic Justice

Short-Term Rentals Are Still Destroying Neighborhoods

Eva Ruth Moravec / Texas Observer Sep 15, 2023 Giant temporary housing platforms are creating drama in the streets—and putting money in the coffers of Texas cities. Dig deeper ( 20 Min. Read )

Ear to the Ground

Biden Administration Unveils Proposed Renter Protection

Truthdig staff / Truthdig Jan 27, 2023 The administration says the moves will safeguard renters and promote rental affordability. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Minimum-Wage Earners Can’t Afford 2-Bedroom Rentals in U.S.

Ilana Novick / Truthdig Jun 14, 2018 A study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition finds that the average worker would have to put in 122 hours per week to afford a two-bedroom apartment at the national fair market rent. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

What New Yorkers Need to Know About Rent Limits

Staff / Truthdig Nov 4, 2015 Tens of thousands of New Yorkers are moving into newer, rent-stabilized apartments. Many are paying "preferential" rents that tenant advocates say invite abuse by landlords. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Rent Too Damn High

Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune. Cagle Cartoons Oct 30, 2015 Dig deeper

What You Need to Earn to Rent a Decent One-Bedroom in America

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Apr 26, 2014 Unsurprisingly, the "housing wage" is much higher than the minimum wage in much of the country. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

The Insider’s Economic Dictionary: R Is for Rentier

By Michael Hudson Apr 14, 2014 Race to the bottom: A term for dog-eat-dog competition by which countries compete by cutting wage levels so as to produce in the cheapest market, not by raising wages and labor productivity. Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

See How the Irish Live

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Jan 23, 2014 A looming social crisis in the Irish capital of Dublin has emerged out of a severe shortage of cheap rents, increased demand for housing and a dramatic slowdown in construction. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Wall Street Santa

Pat Bagley, Cagle Cartoons, Salt Lake Tribune Dec 4, 2013 Dig deeper

Spiraling Rents Squeeze the Nation’s Working Poor

BLANK Oct 23, 2013 Increasing rents and stagnating or decreasing household income have pushed more families into homelessness, even as overall homeless rates have declined. At the same time, the number of families paying more than half of their income for housing has increased 5.5 percent to 6.5 million. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Nobel Prize-Winning Economist Says Buying a House Is a Bad Idea

Staff / Truthdig Oct 16, 2013 If the housing crisis wasn't enough to turn you off of buying real estate, listen to economist Robert Shiller: Houses are poor investments, and they pretty much always have been. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Manhattan Rents Reach for the Sky

Staff / Truthdig Apr 21, 2012 In spite of a still-bleak economy, the average cost of rent in Manhattan sits at an all-time high of $3,148 a month. And with a 1 percent vacancy rate and just over 2,200 rentals slated for construction this year, landlords will continue to dominate the market. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )