Housing Crisis: Supply, Demand, or Both? w/ John Humphreys and Tom Switzer
What happens when geopolitical tensions collide with domestic economic pressures? In this episode, Gene Tunny is joined by John Humphreys and Tom Switzer to unpack the economic fallout from escalating tensions with Iran. The conversation then turns to Australia’s housing affordability crisis—examining whether government policies, population growth, or supply constraints are to blame. Gene would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. You can email him via contact@economicsexplored.com . Takeaways Housing affordability remains a major challenge in many advanced economies, with strong demand outpacing limited supply. Policies like Australia's 5% deposit scheme can boost prices by increasing demand in an already constrained market. Both supply and demand matter—increasing construction and managing population growth are key levers. International examples (such as Canada) suggest that policy changes can influence housing outcomes. Timestamps Iran Nuclear Tensions and Market Reactions (0:00) Impact of the 5% Deposit Scheme on Housing Affordability (6:02) Supply and Demand Dynamics in Housing (7:51) Proposed Solutions and Policy Reforms (14:50) Long-term Factors Contributing to Housing Affordability (18:55) Final Thoughts and Call to Action (24:08) Links relevant to the conversation Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance livestream, Thursday 9 April: https://www.youtube.com/live/hoRKqJhBhUQ?si=_1uHKUG6zCO7vBP1 Tom Switzer’s show, Switzerland: https://www.youtube.com/@TomSwitzerMedia Lumo Coffee promotion 10% of Lumo Coffee’s Seriously Healthy Organic Coffee. Website: https://www.lumocoffee.com/10EXPLORED Promo code: 10EXPLORED