Many people think the government lacks the determination to curb skyrocketing housing prices in northern Taiwan partly because it talks a lot but does very little. The government probably thinks any problem can be solved as long as the economy recovers rapidly. But despite the high economic growth seen this year, the unemployment rate has not come down significantly, and workers' pay has not increased much, either. Under these circumstances, the government has recently put forward plans that are aimed at helping low-income citizens buy or rent homes. But these plans have been criticized for their poor feasibility. The idea to build affordable housing in places far away from Taipei City, for example, is believed to be very unfair to poor people. The fundamental objective of the government's housing policy should be to prevent an unreasonable rise in housing prices and a potential housing bubble. The government, for instance, should reject advertisements run deliberately by private developers to fuel consumer expectations of further spikes in housing prices. Only that and other actions will convince the people that it is determined to stabilize prices in the residential real estate market. (Editorial abstract -- Oct. 19, 2010) 