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0 pointssuperuser210y ago0 comments

That house has value because it is connected to a road, power plant, sewer system, running water, etc. in a municipality that provides schools, EMS, firefighting, police, etc. Its future value is protected by zoning which ensures loud/ugly/polluting/busy buildings will not be located nearby. It is reasonable for the mortgage lender to make the loan because such contracts are enforceable in court, and it can count on the state to seize the house from a delinquent borrower even if the bank itself owns fewer guns than the occupant. The house is guaranteed to meet certain minimum workmanship quality and safety standards set by the state, verified by inspection, to minimize buyers' exposure to lemons.

Very little about the real estate market is emergent. This is an excellent example of a market created by society.

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edanm10y ago

"Very little about the real estate market is emergent. This is an excellent example of a market created by society."

What is the difference between the market being "emergent" and being created by society?

Isn't "created by society" just code for a process that's happened without any one person planning it, over a long time, adding more and more rules to make the world like it is? That's sounds pretty "emergent" to me.

superuser2OP10y ago

In this context I'd argue emergent is the opposite of "designed as public policy" - more like "naturally happens." Though I suppose you could say public policy is itself emergent.

icebraining10y ago

That's true, the state prevents an unplanned market from arising by taking monopolist control of a bunch of infrastructure and natural resources.

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