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De Omnibus Dubitandum - Lux Veritas

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

The Government’s Wasteful Obsession with Subsidized Homeownership

By Hans Bader on July 22, 2013 · 0 comments in Bailout Watch, Deregulate to Stimulate, Economy
The government has spent vast sums of money promoting homeownership through subsidies, tax exemptions, and bailouts. For example, in prosperous Alexandria, Virginia, certain people who never saved up enough money for a down payment received interest-free loans from the federal government to enable them to make a down payment. They do not have to repay those loans until they sell their home. Thrifty people with savings were not eligible for such a handout, penalizing them for their thrift.
Supporters of taxpayer subsidies for homeownership falsely claim it promotes political stability and prosperity. But As George Mason University’s Michael Greve notes, “there’s actually very little support that home ownership correlates with—let alone promotes—democratic stability. If anything, the data suggest that ownership rates are inversely correlated with political stability and the rule of law.” Bankrupt, unstable Greece has a much higher homeownership rate than does the United States. Stable, prosperous Germany and Switzerland have much lower homeownership rates than the U.S. does. European countries facing fiscal crises, like Italy, Spain, and Portugal, have higher homeownership rates…..ToRead More…..
 

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