Latest / The Fiscal Policy Podcast with Fexingo: Government Budgets, Stimulus, and Public Spending
How Government Housing Vouchers Create Rent Inflation
Housing Choice Vouchers, commonly known as Section 8, are supposed to help low-income families afford decent housing. But in this episode, Lucas and Luna examine a paradox: by subsidising demand without increasing supply, vouchers can push rents higher for everyone. They dig into a 2025 study from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia that found each new voucher in a tight market raises local rents by roughly 1.5 percent within two years. They also look at the trade-off for landlords who opt out of the programme, preferring higher unsubsidised tenants. The question: is the voucher system…
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