>I would still pay somebody else to do it if it were economical.
Of course you would, but, for most middle class people, maids have moved from necessity, to luxury.
The marginal utility of a maid has gone down, they used to save you 10 hours a day, now they may save you 1 or 2. Most modern middle class people can manage an hour or 2 a day, but not 10, so the demand has gone way down. Most people aren't willing to sacrifice in order to afford a maid b/c they don't need one.
It will be the same with cars. If you can rent a car with 90% of the connivence of owning one, owning one will become a luxury.
Many people sacrifice a large percentage of their income because the feel a car is necessary. When it's merely, nice to have, most middle class and lower will no longer do so.
Of course you would, but, for most middle class people, maids have moved from necessity, to luxury.
The marginal utility of a maid has gone down, they used to save you 10 hours a day, now they may save you 1 or 2. Most modern middle class people can manage an hour or 2 a day, but not 10, so the demand has gone way down. Most people aren't willing to sacrifice in order to afford a maid b/c they don't need one.
It will be the same with cars. If you can rent a car with 90% of the connivence of owning one, owning one will become a luxury.
Many people sacrifice a large percentage of their income because the feel a car is necessary. When it's merely, nice to have, most middle class and lower will no longer do so.