I wonder how much of the world's growth is squeezed by these kinds of inefficiencies.

Property speculation keeps prices high, and people paying off mortgages in dead-end jobs. Education costs force parents into difficult decisions to move out of HCOL areas where they likely have higher-value jobs. Energy and Water costs spike while providing no societal benefit.

The West is obsessed with keeping these in place, the rising East seems better placed to change economic inefficiencies. Not sure how it'll play out but I feel like Western society is being pillaged by the PE crowd who can take advantage of the above.