Here's an idea - let's not do things that don't work

The Guardian tells us of an idea that we should learn a lesson from:

Berlin's rent cap offers a new way of thinking about Britain's housing crisis Alexander Vasudevan

Yes, OK, let us use this example as an aid to our thinking.

The rent cap in Berlin also offers an object lesson in the rather different role that city governments might play in the UK

Indeed, this is something we should consider.

The rent cap has many detractors in Germany, including landlords’ associations, who have argued that the cap will only lead to housing shortages and scare off investors.

Well, yes, that’s possible.

A rent cap should not be seen as a panacea.

Well, that depends really. What actually has been the effect of this rent cap in Berlin?

Within a year, the supply of rental apartments in Berlin fell by 41 percent - according to the result of an analysis by the real estate portal "Immoscout24". At the same time, demand rose by 172 percent.

Ah, OK, it doesn’t work then. People having a place to lay their weary heads is replaced by long waits to have a place to lay a weary head. It’s not just that it doesn’t solve the problem it is in fact entirely counter-productive. Let’s not do that then, eh?

Of course, we already knew this. Assar Lindbeck spent some of his time working out who should receive the Nobel in economics:

“In many cases rent control appears to be the most efficient technique presently known to destroy a city—except for bombing."

When even a Swedish socialist is able to see the stupidity of an economic policy it’s something best avoided.

So, yes, we do have that example of Berlin before us, as we’ve others over the years and generations. We can and even should consider the idea of rent control. OK, now we’ve considered it and it’s a massively stupid idea. Let’s not do it then. eh?