The Missing Middle Podcast
Welcome to the Missing Middle, a podcast about why the middle class in Canada is disappearing. We hope to help you understand why life is becoming unaffordable for so many in this country, and what can be done to reverse course.
The Missing Middle Podcast
You’ll Own Nothing and Be Happy: Is That Our Future?
Do you actually own the things you pay for anymore?
In this episode of the Missing Middle Podcast, economist Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern explore how ownership is quietly disappearing from everyday life—and what that means for consumers, younger generations, and the economy as a whole.
From streaming services and digital books to video games, cars, exercise bikes, and even housing, more and more products are shifting from one-time purchases to subscription-based access. While these models offer convenience and regular updates, they also raise serious concerns about control, pricing, and long-term access.
Mike and Cara examine the “illusion of ownership” and more about “constrained optimization,” where economic circumstances make traditional ownership nearly impossible for younger generations. Questioning if we are being pushed into a future where the top 0.001% owns all assets while the middle class is permanently transformed into a generation of renters. Mike and Cara break down the policy choices required to reclaim property rights and protect the Canadian dream of actually owning the things you pay for.
Is society moving toward a future where access replaces ownership? And what do we give up when that happens?
👇 Share your thoughts in the comments:
Are subscriptions worth the convenience, or are we losing something more important?
📩 Questions or feedback? Email us at missingmiddlepodcast@gmail.com
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:56 What was the best year for music ever?
02:13 The loss of physical media
03:30 Millennials and the benefits of digital
05:37 The illusion of digital ownership and revoked access
06:40 Digital subscription models
10:10 Rentier capitalism
12:35 The benefits and downsides of subscription
14:04 Two schools of thought on ownership
15:30 Constrained optimization in housing and cars
18:07 The future of ownership and rentier capitalism
19:26 You'll own nothing and be happy
20:47 A way out: The right to repair
Research/links:
https://blog.roonlabs.com/44-days-in-91/
Welcome to 2030. I own nothing, have no privacy, and life has never been better
You'll own nothing and be happy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27ll_own_nothing_and_be_happy
Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux
Produced by Meredith Martin
This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation and brought to you by the Smart Prosperity Institute.
