[edblarney]

"Your taxes do not fund "this" exactly. It's not like Berlin govt will let people live in those places for free, just at an affordable price point. "

It's a costly subsidization, taxpayers are definitely subsidizing it.

'Gentrification' and 'higher rents' are not necessarily the same thing.

Berlin is becoming more prosperous - that's a good thing, it's what we all want.

But it means there's going to be a shifting of neighbourhoods here and there.

Particularly, the most accessible properties will be in most demand.

I don't think Berlin has the same problem as the Valley with vastly disproportionate incomes, or Toronto with massive influence of foreign dollars and large numbers of newcomers + low interest rates.

I stayed in Berlin for a while, and I can assure you there are tons of fairly inexpensive places to live - they just aren't in the most choice neighbourhoods.

If there were truly a dirth of affordable places in the area, then there might be cause for concern ...