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> Landlords already charge as much as the market can bear. Coordination isn't really necessary.

This statement doesn't mean anything.

Consider a game where you try to maximize revenue. You play along with other players with the same goal. If you set your rent too high, other players undercut you. You set the price too low, you leave money on the table. Now consider a rule that says you can at most raise the prices x% a year and the same is true for all players. Now you're anchored to this increase and an equilibrium is more likely to emerge such that every participant increases prices by that amount every year. Much like a minimum wage gives a signal to employers who rely on low cost labor to pay the minimum wage allowed. If you look at distribution of wages, you'll see a huge spike at the minimum as employers essentially use that value to coordinate among themselves.

[0] https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DBkn94UVoAEqBey.png



With rent if the increase is above what the market accepts, units will stay empty. That limits price increases to what the market will accept.


The cost of moving is always a factor, rent will be at market the first year then above market thereafter until it rises to the point that the cost of moving is worthwhile.


If you allow new players to enter the game or existing players to expand their supply, the coordination strategy you outline invites defection.




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