How do we make well-designed economic, education, environmental, etc policy if there’s not working democratic decision-making processes nationally? All these issues require maintaining constitutional order for state policy to be crafted (let alone impactful) relative to magnitude of federal policy.

Resign

Agree with the general skepticism on any such marketing claims. Flip side is that there wouldn’t be a market for their price-setting product if it wasn’t providing landlords *something* -- we’d see landlords ditch rather than flock to the service.

Seems to me a landlord doesn’t need a paid service to know when to lower rent to move a unit!

Use public (or proprietary) data all they want, it’s sharing non-public info across firms (landlords) that’s anticompetitive, illegal, inefficient, etc. Less incentive to do that when lowering rent!

Isn't it plausible that rents increase even more if there wasn't restrictions on sharing non-public market info among landlords? There's no counterfactual here. Ordinance is still relatively new (Oct 2024 implementation), so not a lot to assess quite yet.

We agree ! There should be restrictions on price-setting software that promotes/enables anti-trust activity through use of non-public info. RealPage is the largest in rental markets, but it's about the underlying practice not one platform. I don't think landlords buy tools to set lower rents...

Agree that this is not a primary driver of the market, but that doesn't mean it's not a problem we shrug off. We know feds will not prosecute now, thus a role for state/local policy action. My frustration is when folks want to present these as mutually exclusive policies.

Evidence indicates it's more than automated decisions. RealPage provides landlords non-public info from competitors (other landlords), enabling indirect collusion. Bad for consumers & an anti-trust violation based on an old Supreme Court ruling (Interstate Circuit Inc v US, 1939).

My points is not that this explains the entire rental housing market - but that it’s a problem zoning reforms (with which I agree!) will not solve it all. I think we can and should remedy both market failures.

Don’t take my word for it! Why create the pricing tool if there wasn’t a market for it? Why did the Biden officials file the suit?

Are you suggesting landlords would opt to NOT use additional (& nonpublic) info that helps them maximize rental income?

Biden DOJ’s antirust lawsuit against RealPage included evidence indicating that RealPage reps coached landlords/property managers to increase rents & advised against decreases. Surprised to read your claim that RealPage is reducing rents in Austin as that’s not anything seen in other markets…

Yes, zoning reform is good & we should build more housing. AND, that alone does not “solve” housing or explain all its increased costs! (What about labor/input constraints? Price collusion?)

Getting a feeling we’re reaching (or reached) peak YIMBY & some folks can benefit from widening apertures.

Agree on zoning reforms. However while ownership may not be concentrated that doesn’t mean there isn’t anti-competitive price-fixing in rental markets. RealPage facilitates “hub & spoke” collusion among landlords that drives rental prices beyond what market would & encourages leaving units vacant.

Thank you for enabling my retrofuturism (paid RSS content)

Long time pod listener, now first time subscriber. You finally got me with your commitment to reading the about section.

Any chance you can add RSS for the newsletter? I promise exactly 1 paid subscription in return.

Read this & felt it presents some claims w/o factual basis. How does persuasion happen on Twitter? It does not fit with research on how public opinion shifts, esp across parties.

Twitter could be an *activation* engine or signal Good Takes to fellow partisans, but the benefit you cite for its use.

Or continued deep disdain for “status quo” and a different figure (Trump) standing in for that now?

I (usually) like his stuff (when not aimed at the left), but Will is also terminally, chronically online and seeks out opportunities to fight. He is a tiring follow.

Chait is less often right, but also less often pushing into my feed.

Thanks for this. Enjoy all your stuff, but this one hit different. Beautiful tribute to what makes cities places we want to live.