Political candidates repeating the word "affordability" like a magical incantation has become a common campaign strategy, but according to commentator Ben Shapiro, this approach fundamentally misunderstands what actually makes goods and services affordable for everyday people.
The Affordability Paradox in Modern Politics
In his recent column, Shapiro points to the campaign of self-described socialist Zohran Mamdani, who became a frontrunner in the New York City mayoral election by frequently invoking the term "affordability." This strategy reflects a broader political trend where simply repeating the word has become seen as a pathway to rising poll numbers.
Yet despite the constant political chatter about affordability, the world continues to become more expensive for average consumers. Shapiro argues this isn't a coincidence but rather a direct result of misunderstanding economic principles.
What Actually Drives Prices Down
According to Shapiro's analysis, there's only one genuine way to make things more affordable: reducing prices. This can only be achieved through two mechanisms: decreasing demand or increasing supply.
Government intervention typically works against both these mechanisms, Shapiro contends. Most governmental policies either increase demand through subsidies (which drives prices up) or reduce supply through regulations and restrictions (which also increases prices).
He provides compelling evidence by comparing two categories of products since the year 2000. Products that have become significantly more expensive include:
- Hospital services
- College tuition and fees
- College textbooks
- Medical care services
- Child care
- Food and beverages
- Housing
Meanwhile, products that have remained stable or decreased in price include:
- New cars
- Household furnishings
- Clothing
- Cellphone services
- Software
- Toys
- Televisions
The Free Market Versus Regulation
Shapiro notes that the first list consists of heavily regulated and subsidized industries, while the second includes products largely left to free market competition. Free markets, through competition and efficiency-seeking, naturally generate increased supply and lower prices, making goods more affordable without political intervention.
The columnist observes that virtually no politician is willing to state the obvious truth: achieving genuine affordability requires reducing political power rather than expanding it. Instead, politicians typically promise that giving them more power will solve affordability problems—an approach Shapiro characterizes as "an increasingly ubiquitous lie on both sides of the aisle."
Shapiro uses the debate over H-1B visas to illustrate his point. While acknowledging legitimate questions about screening and labor protections, he argues that the broader objection to skilled immigrant labor harming affordability is fundamentally flawed.
Restricting labor supply may temporarily increase wages in protected industries, but these costs are ultimately passed to consumers through higher prices. If products become uncompetitive, businesses may offshore operations or replace human labor with technology, ultimately harming the very industries politicians sought to protect.
Shapiro concludes that addressing the affordability crisis requires more than political slogans—it demands honest recognition that market competition, not government control, provides the most reliable path to lower prices and greater accessibility for consumers.
