Looking to spice up dinner on Thursday?

Pose this brainteaser:

For something to be a good investment, its price needs to go up more quickly than inflation.

For something to become more affordable, its price needs to go up more slowly than inflation.

Bad news, folks: you can’t want housing to be a good investment and want more market-rate affordable housing. Scarcity drives price, so increasing supply decreases prices. Ya don’t get it both ways.

But beware: Uncle Mike might not like you exposing the myth that his worth is tied up in something that is worth a lot of money only because there isn’t enough to go around. Consider having this conversation before the first or after the fourth glass of wine.

Good luck out there.

(And really, Happy Thanksgiving.)