
Brittle
How the Housing Crisis is Breaking Ireland - and How to Fix It
Ronan Lyons(Author)
Atlantic Books (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 1. October 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
352 pages
978-1-80546-713-7 (ISBN)
Description
Over 50% of Irish people under 40 are either living with their parents or in share accommodation, unable to live either by themselves or with partners despite that being their preference.
The housing crisis is often spoken of as a bubble, but economics professor Ronan Lyons argues that this metaphor is outdated. Rather, Ireland suffers from a brittle housing system, one that has lost the ability to respond to change. This groundbreaking book shows what that brittleness is doing to society, how it emerged and, most critically, how a healthier housing system can be built.
The housing crisis is often spoken of as a bubble, but economics professor Ronan Lyons argues that this metaphor is outdated. Rather, Ireland suffers from a brittle housing system, one that has lost the ability to respond to change. This groundbreaking book shows what that brittleness is doing to society, how it emerged and, most critically, how a healthier housing system can be built.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
496 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80546-713-7 (9781805467137)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
approx. 10/2026
Atlantic Books
€13.99
Not yet available
Person
Ronan Lyons is Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin, with a research focus on housing. Over two decades ago, he established the Daft.ie Report, Ireland's leading independent analysis of the housing market. Over the past decade, he has written extensively on housing and related issues for major newspapers - including for The Currency since 2020 - combining academic evidence with accessible public commentary on housing, the rental sector, planning and urban development.