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The Great Divide

Australia's Housing Mess and How to Fix It: Quarterly Essay 92
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The Great Divide by Alan Kohler explores the economic and political issues contributing to societal inequalities. Kohler examines the factors driving the widening disparity between wealth and opportunity, offering insight into the systemic challenges faced in closing this gap. Through this analysis, the book delves into potential solutions and the necessity for collective action.
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This book may appeal to you if you're interested in understanding the socio-economic challenges and issues in society, explained through a compelling political and current affairs lens. Alan Kohler provides insightful analysis on the growing divisions and inequalities, offering readers a thought-provoking exploration of modern economic and political landscapes.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

What caused Australia's housing crisis - and how we might fix it.

One of the great mysteries of Australian life is that a land of sweeping plains, with one of the lowest population densities on the planet, has a shortage of land for houses. As a result, Sydney is the second most expensive place to buy a house on Earth, after Hong Kong.

The escalation in house prices is a pain that has altered Australian society; it has increased inequality and profoundly changed the relationship between generations - between those who have a house and those who don't. It has caused a rental crisis, a dearth of public housing and a mortgage crunch.

Things went seriously wrong at the start of the twenty-first century, when there was a huge and permanent rise in the price of housing. In this crisp, clarifying and forward-looking essay, Alan Kohler tells the story of how we got into this mess - and how we might get out of it.

The growth in the value of Australian land has fundamentally changed society, in two ways. First, generations of young Australians are being held back financially by the cost of shelter, especially if they live somewhere near a CBD and especially in Sydney or Melbourne; and second, the way wealth is generated has changed. Education and hard work are no longer the main determinants of how wealthy you are; now it comes down to where you live and what sort of house you inherit from your parents. It means Australia is less of an egalitarian meritocracy. -- Alan Kohler, The Great Divide

Correspondence to Quarterly Essay 91 LIFEBOAT from Bill Shorten, Monique Ryan, Sam Drummond, Rhonda Galbally, Sam Bennett, Robbi Williams, Carly Findlay, and Micheline Lee.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781760644239

Publisher: Black Inc.

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 November 2023

Country: Australia

Imprint: Quarterly Essay

Edition: 92nd edition

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 167.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 182g

Pages: 128

About the Author

Alan Kohler is finance presenter on ABC News and a columnist for The New Daily. A former editor of The Age and The Australian Financial Review, he founded the Eureka Report and has written for The Australian, AFR, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. His books include It's Your Money.

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