Affordability, particularly in terms of housing, lies at the heart of the elections taking place on October 29 in the Netherlands. This reflects an issue that has also affected countries such as the United States. According to The New York Times, these challenges stem from a combination of factors, including the limited construction of new homes since the 2008 financial crisis and a growing preference for living alone rather than sharing housing. One major reason for the difficulty in building more homes is the extensive number of regulations which, despite offering certain benefits, have contributed to a shortage of approximately 400,000 homes in the Netherlands, according to the Dutch firm ABF Research.

As the election approaches, no political party has managed to communicate an effective solution to this problem. The centrist D66 has pledged to construct ten new cities, while the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), which currently leads in the polls, argues that stricter immigration laws are the answer. Although immigration restrictions have dominated much of the political debate, affordability, particularly housing affordability, remains a central concern. Parliamentary elections in the Netherlands are known for the lengthy process of forming a government, often delaying solutions to pressing everyday issues that affect people’s quality of life. For instance, in the 2023 election, 15 parties won seats in parliament, with the leading PVV securing only 23.49 percent of the vote, which required extensive coalition negotiations before a prime minister could be chosen.

The problem of affordability mirrors a broader global trend, particularly in major cities across the Western world such as New York City and London. This challenge has become especially pronounced since the Covid-19 pandemic. The World Economic Forum notes that “demand for housing that is locally affordable consistently surpasses supply in large cities, resulting in inventory shortages that are exacerbating the problem.” This persistent imbalance explains why housing affordability frequently emerges as a key issue in elections around the world. The same pattern is visible in rapidly growing cities such as Mumbai, according to the World Economic Forum.

Affordability is an essential component of quality of life, and housing costs play a direct role in determining what is truly affordable. Whether it is a student renting an apartment and preparing to vote in the Dutch elections, a grandmother casting her ballot in the upcoming New York City mayoral race, or a housing advocate working in Delhi, the struggle for affordable housing remains a deeply shared, global concern.