The trend is similar in Finland. Over here one of the culprits are actually unions since they own a large portion of the cost controlled apartments and they have been raising rents so much that in some parts of the country it's easy to find more affordable rental apartments outside the affordable housing system. This is harming the consumer demand for goods which in turn is harming the struggling economy. Many right wingers justifiably point out to this hypocrisy and also use it to direct attention away from their austerity policies and how they are also driving the consumer demand down.