Competition Crisis Threatens American Living Standards More Than Affordability. The real economic threat isn't that products are unaffordable, but that government policies have created barriers preventing competition. Zoning restrictions account for 24 to 40 percent of housing construction costs, while certificate-of-need laws and occupational licensing limit competition in healthcare and other services. These anti-competitive policies protect existing providers while blocking lower-cost alternatives like duplexes, townhomes, and nurse practitioners. The solution requires policy reform to remove entry barriers and restore competitive markets that drive innovation and lower prices across housing, healthcare, and legal services.
