The ongoing expansion in housing units square footage per person and
acres per housing unit is usually justified using the 'Economistic' idea
that humans are rational self-interest maximizers, capable of gauging
the marginal value of an additional increment. In reality, humans are
not rational optimizers, but rational satisficers and irrational
maximizers. People make decisions on the basis of meeting perceived
needs. Once those perceived needs are met, they act to maximize any
offered considerations, regardless of their desirability.