I’m sick of “affordability”
The article discusses the concept of 'affordability' in relation to economic growth and rising incomes. It argues that while the term 'affordability' is popular among politicians and advocacy groups, it ultimately reflects a desire for greater economic prosperity. The author suggests that focusing on economic growth is more meaningful than simply addressing affordability concerns.
- ▪Voters generally prefer job security and economic prosperity over unemployment and stagnation.
- ▪The media's negative tone has influenced public perceptions of economic conditions.
- ▪The term 'affordability' is often used without acknowledging its connection to economic growth and higher incomes.
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I’m sick of “affordability” How about economic growth and rising incomes?Matthew YglesiasMay 26, 2026∙ PaidShareLet’s focus on how much stuff middle-class families can afford. (Photo by Fotografia Inc.)For as long as I can remember, everyone has agreed that voters care at least somewhat about questions of material prosperity. They care about other things too, of course. But most voters prefer to have a job to being unemployed, they feel better when businesses are opening rather than closing, and they like to have more stuff and higher incomes rather than less stuff and lower incomes. More recently, though, I’ve had two updates to my view of this. The first is that back during the Obama years, older people warned me that voters get angry about inflation per se.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Slow Boring (Yglesias).
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