The consequences of giving upLee and Yoo are high school friends who grew up in South Korea and whose research focused on the economic consequences of unattainable home ownership. In a time of relatively high inflation, there are many possible explanations for shifting spending patterns, and not every researcher embraces this analysis. Inflation also soared in other parts of the economy, peaking in mid-2022, raising the cost of groceries, electricity, rent and healthcare. But those in the US$200,000 to US$300,000 range are the most likely crypto buyers, with nearly 10% investing. “We think if households perceive home ownership as less achievable, they consume more, [and] because of this behaviour, the wealth inequality has been widened.

Source: New Zealand Herald December 24, 2025 14:04 UTC