Is Sluggish Single-Family Housing Construction Slowing the Economy?

The Wall Street Journal implies a take on the U.S. economy that might make some urbanists uncomfortable: more single-family construction is necessary for a full economic recovery.

1 minute read

September 8, 2015, 10:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Kris Hudson and Nick Timiraos pen a speculative post for the Wall Street Journal that explores the effect of the U.S. housing market on the country's economy, especially given what the article describes as sluggish construction of single-family homes. The rhetorical question that frames the article: "The U.S. housing market dragged the economy into a deep recession nearly eight years ago. Could it now insulate the domestic expansion during a fragile period of global growth?"

"The problem: Housing still isn’t contributing much to overall economic growth because new construction of single-family homes, which packs an outsize economic punch, is stuck near levels hit during the early 1990s recession."

The article goes on to explore details of the market's current reality, and its relationship the realities of the larger economy. 

Monday, September 7, 2015 in The Wall Street Journal

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