Three inconvenient truths: How to stop housing radicalising the young and killing the political centre

This article utilises the experiences of Italy and Ireland to highlight how political failures to combat intergenerational housing inequalities have contributed to the rapid disaffection of huge segments of the population. In this context, this article identifies three inconvenient truths that Europe’s centrist political parties need to face before real progress can occur. First, all property markets are national and are driven by a complex set of historical, social and economic norms. The EU cannot directly impact these domestic markets. Second, home ownership can only succeed in a diversified-tenure model. To protect home ownership as a viable pathway for middle-class families, Europe’s centre–right must also deliver on social and affordable housing. Third, widening the tax base (and reducing the burden of income taxes on working people) should be a core centre–right principle. The centre–right has to confront its most inconvenient truth—the fact that its most important voter group (older and retired people, who mostly live mortgage free) needs to contribute towards ensuring a more sustainable economic model for their children.