Fixing the housing crisis

Abstract

This article looks at the intergenerational issues associated with housing in New Zealand. Election year is again upon us (Covid-19 permitting) and, with the problems surrounding KiwiBuild, housing affordability is under the spotlight. It is no secret that New Zealand has a housing affordability problem and many causes are feeding this. Two of these causes – capital taxation inconsistencies and infrastructure issues – will be the focus of this article. Inconsistencies in the taxation of capital income are a major source of the problem, causing intergenerational transfers from younger to older generations. A land tax is a possible solution. Complementary policies targeted at addressing infrastructure bottlenecks also have an important role to play.