Flames from the Dixie Fire consume a home on Highway 89 south of Greenville on August 5, 2021, in Plumas County, California. AP Photo/Noah Berger Soaring home prices are contributing to the biggest economic crises of the 21st century. Climate change, birth rates, and inequality have all been slammed by the housing affordability crisis. Building more homes and denser apartments can fight a number of economic calamities, economists said. See more stories on Insider's business page. Falling birth rates.