European housing politics rarely discuss the root causes that dominate American discourse. While Americans broadly agree their housing shortage stems from zoning restrictions and suburban NIMBYism, continental Europeans focus on rent controls and public housing instead. YIMBYism has built significant momentum in the US, with scholars like Ed Glaeser and organizations such as California YIMBY pushing deregulation.

Katharina Knoll's research reveals 80 percent of European house price increases since WWII trace to regulatory constraints. European prices now exceed American ones significantly, despite the latter's recent rises in cities like San Francisco. Outward urban expansion hasn't matched American sprawl, but densification restrictions prove equally problematic. Paris expanded severalfold since 1945, yet zoning still blocks meaningful supply increases.

Zoning actually originated in late 19th century Germany, designed to protect wealthy suburbs from density. Berlin's 1905 plan created exclusive villa colonies through strict height and density limits. Modern Berlin zoning maintains similar restrictions under 'landscape character' designations. These policies persist across most European capitals.

The author suggests continental Europe adopt American framing about land-use restrictions driving housing costs. This shift could unlock more productive policy debates, given Europe's more severe housing shortages despite less vocal discussion.