Vienna’s social housing, lauded by progressives, pushes out the poor

About 60% of Vienna’s population of 2m or so live in “social housing”, where rents are kept low by the city. Apartments are often small, but the amenities—kindergartens, laundries and pools—generous. A two-bedroom unit of 80 square metres (861 square feet) with a garden costs as little as €900 ($975) a month. Vienna is regularly voted the world’s most liveable city: cheap housing means more money for the good life. Just 44% of Viennese spend over a quarter of their income on housing (including energy costs); in London it is 86%, in Paris 67%. Renters can keep their apartments for life at roughly the same rent.