Guns N’ Butter and Housing  by John Wilhoit Jr. on  Is there a
connection between war and when housing cycles recover in the
greater economy? The guns versus butter argument revolves around
the theory that any society has limited resources and we have to
choose wisely how we deploy them.  While food (butter) is a
necessity of life we also need to protect (guns) the food we
have otherwise someone stronger will take away from us the food
we have produced. Therefore, while it is good to grow food, it’s
better to have an opportunity to consume the food we grow
without threat. We avoid being threatened by showing outsiders
the ability to protect what we have.  Only since the end of WW
II has housing formed as a stall-worth in the Guns N’ Butter
paradigm. When the GI’s came home they needed housing and jobs. 
Building housing created both housing stock and jobs.  Financing
the housing was necessary to make it all work. And it worked
well.  Is it true that when wars end housing flourishes?  The
United states for mos