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

Welcome to 2030. I own nothing, have no privacy, and life has never been better | by World Economic Forum | World Economic Forum | Medium

https://medium.com/world-economic-forum/welcome-to-2030-i-own-nothing-have-no-privacy-and-life-has-never-been-better-ee2eed62f710

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.

From breath mints and car break-ins to bouncers at the Rogers store, urban life is starting to feel a lot more “on alert.” In this episode of The Missing Middle, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux examine the rise of crime and disorder in our cities, as well as the disturbing data behind transit violence. However, this isn’t just about safety; it’s about the future of our neighbourhoods. If people don’t feel safe on the streetcar or the sidewalk, can we ever truly build the dense, walkable, “missing middle” communities Canada so desperately needs?

This surge in disorder acts as a "hidden tax" on urban living, forcing residents to choose between the convenience of the city and the perceived security of the suburbs. By analyzing these shifts, we uncover how a lack of safety might be the biggest hurdle yet to solving our housing goals.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Crime, Disorder, and the Future of Cities

00:50 Car Break-ins and Security Measures

04:23 Personal Experiences on the Streetcar

05:02 By the Numbers: Rising Assaults on Canadian Transit

07:07 Why Density Requires Public Trust

09:00 Why Spouting Stats Doesn't Change Minds

13:58 The Political Disconnect on Urban Safety

16:49 Finding Solutions: Justice Reform and Mental Health

18:10 Why "visible progress" matters more than spreadsheets

Research links:

Transit violence rising across Canada — in some cities by nearly 300%

Chris Arnande tweet

The Slow-Motion Exodus: How GTA Outmigration Became Ontario’s Defining Trend

The Politics of Safety: Why Bail Reform Is Striking a Chord with Canadians

Sabrina Maddeaux: Canada’s suburban crime surge is exposing years of national security neglect

It's Time to Talk About America's Disorder Problem

Related reading/listening:

OFF THE RAILS: Data exposes crime, mental illness at TTC’s track level

More than 70 per cent of Ontarians feel less safe on transit than a year ago, survey suggests

Homelessness, Social Disorder and Public Transit in Calgary, Canada: Examining perspectives from law enforcement through the lens of critical social theory

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.

From avocado toast jokes to accusations of entitlement, every generation seems to get its turn in the stereotype spotlight. In this episode of The Missing Middle, economist Mike Moffatt and journalist Cara Stern dig into where these labels come from — and, more importantly, whether generations really do experience the economy differently.

They explore how major historical shocks — from the Great Depression and World War II to 9/11, the Great Recession, and the pandemic — shape our values, anxieties, and opportunities. The conversation moves beyond clichés to examine how birth year, cohort size, housing markets, job markets, technology, and public policy combine to create very different economic realities for Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:37 Avocado toast & generational stereotypes

03:25 Horriscopes for statistical nerds?

04:46 The history of grouping people into generations

06:41 Mike’s genX and Cara’s millennial experiences

13:24 Understanding generational differences

15:55 Generation size, power & public Policy

19:40 Inherited wealth & pulling the ladder up

22:30 The ethos of DemograFix

Research/links:

https://marcuse.faculty.history.ucsb.edu/classes/201/articles/27MannheimGenerations.pdf

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.